5G cell tower

New Government Strategy for 5G Security Sets Stage for Domestic Rollout

Franco Zaro of Valid breaks down new government efforts to establish a 5G security strategy and public paranoia about the wireless infrastructure.

Amid the constant stream of coronavirus updates, you may have missed some important developments in fifth-generation wireless infrastructure last month.

On March 23, President Donald Trump signed The Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2020 – legislation which requires his administration to produce a 5G security strategy within 180 days of the law’s enactment.

That same week, the White House published the “National Strategy to Secure 5G of the United States,” a 7-page policy document addressing the administration’s plans to facilitate the domestic deployment of 5G, assess security risks and promote global development of the technology.

To understand more about government efforts to ensure secure 5G development and what it might mean for the burgeoning number of at-home workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Security Today spoke with Franco Zaro, the director of business development for global technology provider Valid. Zaro also discussed public paranoia about the technology that has grown during the coronavirus crisis.

What is the importance of the new Secure 5G and Beyond Act? Why should Americans care about its enactment?

Although this enactment is about two years too late – as technology often evolves faster than political action – the 5G and Beyond Act will define how the U.S. builds the framework to implement the powerful omnipresent communication multichannel that is 5G. It will also lead how the U.S. implements upcoming technologies that will change the way we interact as a social ecosystem composed of both humans and machines.

What impact do you anticipate the law will have on the development and integration of 5G into American lives?

I believe that as it stands, having a bipartisan commission supported by leaders of different sectors (security, technology, science, transportation, etc.) will establish diverse participation, which will ensure 5G’s impact on American lives is implemented in a controlled manner. If both Republican and Democratic leaders are in agreement on the law, I think many misconceptions about the use of 5G can be changed. Particularly, American’s understanding of privacy and how 5G will create security while enabling systems to use Identity as the main entity.

How does the implementation of 5G affect the growing number of at-home workers and their use of IoT devices?

In the past five weeks, we have experienced an overwhelming necessity from several industries for a system that allows them to remotely monitor their production chain. Companies that have been resistant to change in the past are being forced to leave their comfort and adapt their way of production. As a result, these companies are realizing that big corporate offices are no longer a necessity as a remote office is far less expensive to maintain, along with several additional benefits.

According to BuzzFeed News, there has been a growing paranoia about 5G and even a conspiracy theory that the technology could "secretly be causing the COVID-19 outbreak." How do cybersecurity and technology experts combat the general public's misconceptions about 5G?

We are facing ‘times of change’ at many levels. Consider: new technology will be the driver of a connected and integrated world, giving people the ability to receive real-time data to support decisions or statements and the possibility to be efficient with our energy.

With the integration of 5G, I assume some areas of our society may look to keep the status quo in an effort to protect their own interests, and ‘fear of change’ will always generate paranoia or resistance. The same initial resistance happened with every step of the industrial revolution with steamers, mass production lines, automation and now with digital convergence. However, I am positive that our natural capacity to adapt as a society will prevail as it always has.

What are the security measures that you believe must be put in place for 5G's development and implementation? What policies do you hope government and private sector experts will keep in mind throughout that process?

Secure access to data is the main concern for how new technologies such as blockchain or biometrics will be able to help us. That being said, global guidelines are trying to explore the concept of privacy to ensure it is taken into serious consideration. It will be important for the U.S. to adopt an education system that ensures future generations are equipped to make the most of this new world and not dependent on more visionary countries – which is what is happening right now.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.