Cloudflare Launches Zero Trust SIM, Could Provide Higher Security Layer Than VPN

Cloudflare launched two new security systems (photo: Cloudflare)

JAKARTA - The future of 5G is approaching, we will soon have access to high-power and low-latency networks wherever we are. However, it is not always safe. At least that's what tech company Cloudflare says.

To solve the aforementioned security challenges, Cloudflare will launch two of its newest products, Zero Trust SIM and Zero Trust for Mobile Operators, targeting smartphone users, and companies to secure operators selling data services.

Zero Trust SIM

Today, we’re announcing the first Zero Trust SIM: the next major part of Cloudflare One, combining both software and hardware layers to rethink mobile device security for organizations. https://t.co/IvlB6v978t #BirthdayWeek🎂

— Cloudflare (@Cloudflare) September 26, 2022

Mobile is becoming a new threat vector. Last month, Cloudflare was one of 130 companies targeted by phishing attacks. Cell phones were the cornerstone of the attack, with early employees contacted via SMS.

"Given how basic mobile networks operate today, Cloudflare ended up creating Zero Trust SIM as a cell-level layer of defense, which VPNs and other secure layers cannot do.

For starters, Zero Trust SIM will launch in the US, and will be available as an eSIM that can be deployed via the existing mobile device management platform on iOS and Android devices.

"The eSIM-first approach allows us to prevent SIM swapping or cloning attacks, and by locking SIMs onto individual employee devices, provides the same protection to physical SIMs," the company said on its blog.

The eSIM will later be locked to a specific device to reduce the risk of SIM swapping attacks, and can be used either in a standalone configuration or in conjunction with Cloudflare's mobile agent, WARP.

While pricing has yet to be decided, the Zero Trust SIM which will be launched in the next few months will be treated as part of Cloudflare's Zero Trust platform from a billing perspective.

Zero Trust for Operator Seluler

Today we’re announcing the creation of a new partnership program for mobile networks — #ZeroTrust for Mobile Operators — to jointly solve the biggest security and performance challenges. https://t.co/SHXw6mbrvJ #BirthdayWeek🎂

— Cloudflare (@Cloudflare) September 26, 2022

Cloudflare's partnership program with mobile carriers will allow service providers to offer subscriptions to mobile security tools from Cloudflare's Zero Trust platform, Graham-Cumming told TechCrunch.

“We are happy to partner with a mobile network operator for this service because our network and services are very complementary,” said the Cloudflare team.

As long as connectivity exists, you can overlay the security of your connectivity with the Zero Trust platform to ensure each user can only access resources that have been explicitly granted permission.

"The network we use is growing and becoming more distributed. The Zero Trust architecture enables that growth while protecting against known risks," the company said.