Tough new rules confirmed to protect UK telecoms networks against cyber attacks

The Telecommunications (Security) Act, which became law in November, gives the government powers to boost the security standards of the UK’s mobile and broadband networks, including the electronic equipment and software at phone mast sites and in telephone exchanges which handle internet traffic and telephone calls.

Currently, telecoms providers are responsible for setting their own security standards in their networks. However, the government’s Telecoms Supply Chain Review found providers often have little incentive to adopt the best security practices.

The new regulations and code of practice, developed with the National Cyber Security Centre and Ofcom, set out specific actions for UK public telecoms providers to fulfil their legal duties in the Act.

They will improve the UK’s cyber resilience by embedding good security practices in providers’ long term investment decisions and the day-to-day running of their networks and services.

The substance of the final regulations has been confirmed by the government following a response to a public consultation on them.

The regulations are to make sure providers:

• protect data processed by their networks and services, and secure the critical functions which allow them to be operated and managed
• protect software and equipment which monitor and analyse their networks and services
• have a deep understanding of their security risks and the ability to identify when anomalous activity is taking place with regular reporting to internal boards
• take account of supply chain risks, and understand and control who has the ability to access and make changes to the operation of their networks and services to enhance security

Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman said: “We know how damaging cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure can be, and our broadband and mobile networks are central to our way of life.

“We are ramping up protections for these vital networks by introducing one of the world’s toughest telecoms security regimes which secure our communications against current and future threats.”

NCSC Technical Director Dr Ian Levy said: “We increasingly rely on our telecoms’ networks for our daily lives, our economy, and the essential services we all use.

“These new regulations will ensure that the security and resilience of those networks, and the equipment that underpins them, is appropriate for the future.”

The regulations will be laid as secondary legislation in Parliament shortly, alongside a draft code of practice providing guidance on how providers can comply with them.

Ofcom will oversee, monitor, and enforce the legal duties and have the power to carry out inspections of telecoms firms’ premises and systems to ensure they’re meeting their obligations. If companies fail to meet their duties, the regulator will be able to issue fines of up to 10% of turnover or, in the case of a continuing contravention, £100,000 per day.

From October 2022, providers will be subject to the new rules and Ofcom will be able to use its powers to ensure providers are taking appropriate and proportionate measures to meet their security duties and follow the guidance within the code of practice.

This includes:

• identifying and assessing the risk to any ‘edge’ equipment that is directly exposed to potential attackers. This includes radio masts and internet equipment supplied to customers such as Wi-Fi routers and modems which act as entry points to the network
• keeping tight control of who can make network-wide changes
• protecting against certain malicious signalling coming into the network which could cause outages
• having a good understanding of risks facing their networks
• making sure business processes are supporting security (e.g., proper board accountability)

Providers will be expected to have achieved these outcomes by March 2024. The code of practice will set out further timeframes for completion of other measures.

The code will be updated periodically to ensure it keeps pace with any evolving cyber threats.