Threat classification in current Communication Infrastructures

Telecommunications networks are essential for the day-to-day running of all nations businesses and public services, but concerns have been raised in recent years over their security. Private businesses, government agencies and other bodies are dependent on telephone and internet services provided by telecommunications (telecoms) networks to carry out daily operations. Telecoms networks also provide services integral to the health and social life of the population. In this respect, telecoms have been identified as one of the main significant national infrastructure sectors - since they are pivotal infrastructures to the functioning of a state or country. Telecommunications networks face a range of physical and cyber threats that may be malicious, non-deliberate or naturally occurring. While there is no mandated security and resilience standard for telecommunications, current resilience mainly includes investing in duplicates of infrastructure (i.e. disaster centers, double networks) and installing back-up power supplies Threats classifications help to identify and understand threat characteristics and sources. These help to detect, understand and evaluate threats, and therefore help to recommend or introduce proper and relevant security solutions and controls in order to protect systems, assets, and services, and to be resilient under attacks and disasters. This paper will present current models of threat classification used in communications infrastructures.