Oh Frak! - the issues with 5G pushing power to edge devices
They say all things are circular, from fashion to politics and computing it seems is not immune. While Moore's law continues to take computing to more powerful machines with smaller footprints, the very phenomena that is bringing us quantum computers the size of offices is also enabling smaller devices to perform tasks that would previously require server-type specs.
With the "new normal" starting to settle in across the world, there has been an enormous reliance on internet connections and online resources - from entertainment to business, much of the world is overwhelmingly reliant on a connection to operate, make money and prosper. So what happens when the plug is pulled or worse - compromised?
With IoT and 5G converging to enable devices from your kitchen fridge to alarm clock and even teddy bears to be "online" there is - or should be - a real concern over security of communications between these systems.
It harkens back to the old tv series Battlestar Gallactica, where the crew of a spaceship bearing the same name are frantically trying to avoid the dreaded Cylon forces by tip toeing around the galaxy looking for any remaining "friendly" lifeforms. The Cylons now owning most of the known universe work on a network covering nearly all electronic devices. Which is where the Battlestar came in - working entirely "off the grid" allowed them [with reasonable success] to pass undetected, until sabotage and misfortune kicked in, which it did... Often.
Science fiction it may be, but the notion of security benefits of being "off the grid" are nothing new, it is of course how we started out in the pre-internet days! From local intranets sharing resources across say a university campus, or before that the client-server relationship that allowed for multiple computers to print to a single printer in the office this out-dated setup could be brought to the fore as a more secure way of operating.
Just as the majority of people don't look at internet cookies, or opt-out of mailing lists, there are countless many who will be putting themselves and potentially their businesses in a potentially vulnerable position just to "have the internet" without first assessing the question: do we need it / what do we need from it?
In IT security it is commonplace to work on the Principle of Least Privilege; you wouldn't expect your sales intern to have access to the company accounts, so the way in which your network devices interact and are accessible should also be closely policed.
