Telecommunication companies are not immune from the threat of cyberattacks. Cybercriminals can disrupt services or infiltrate their systems to gain access to subscriber information, which can be used to gain further access to other systems and networks.
These telecom companies are then left with a unique set of challenges to overcome. This makes it essential for telecoms to find ways to remain secure, one of which is by integrating robust digital identity proofing solutions.
8 Challenges in Telecom Digital Identity Management and Their Solutions
1. User password fatigue
In SaaS models, applications are made more accessible. URLs and password requirements may be simplified, leading to multiple security risks. Password fatigue occurs when apps continuously ask users to change their passwords because they are either weak or used in multiple platforms and websites.
When your client cannot remember their passwords, they can direct their frustration to your company. Additionally, if your clients use weak passwords, they open themselves to risks that they may blame you for.
Solution: Single-Sign-On (SSO)
To alleviate the negative ramifications of password fatigue, companies can incorporate SSO. SSO is a beneficial tool that enables your clients to sign in with a single username and password to all their accounts. An ideal SSO would connect your clients to on-premises applications and cloud applications using multi-factor authentication (MFA) such as biometrics.
2. Weak authentication protocols
With the rising threat of cyberattacks in digital identity management, your client is at risk from account takeovers and data breaches. Better authentication protocols are required beyond passwords and two-factor authentications alone.
Solution: Multi-Factor Authentication
Given the risk of single, password-dependent authentications, an MFA using palm or fingerprint scan, facial scan, and other biometric authenticators establishes a secure originating sign-on method, strengthens the application verification system, and identifies users more effectively.
3. Technology gaps
Merging various applications, technology, and tools is essential to effective digital identity management. For instance, some Identity Access Management (IAM) software requires applications to be updated continuously. Similarly, incorporating a different identity management system could mean investing in a new, company-specific computer model or configuration.
Solution: Have the right tools in place
When it comes to effective user management, you don’t always need to invest in significant technology and drastically change the configuration system of your company’s devices. You do not always need to have the budget for cameras with advanced technology in biometric authentication and liveness detection. The average cell phone or smartphone camera also works perfectly well.
4. Onboarding of new customers
In establishing your digital identity in the telecom industry, it is crucial to show your customer the value of your service. With this in mind, give your customers a remarkable experience with a secure yet straightforward signup.
Solution: A secure identity proofing platform
With a secure digital identity proofing platform that leverages biometrics, users’ identities are proven efficiently. You reduce user friction with an easy-to-use identity management proofing enrollment process to obtain secure access.
5. Identity verification for customers calling in
Rather than using social security numbers, which can be leaked or stolen by various methods, use a more secure identity management verification method to prevent identity fraud.
Solution: Remote identity proofing
Q5id’s biometrics coupled with a government ID for onboarding a new customer means that they can easily verify their identity with a quick selfie and palm scan in the Q5id app when they call in.
6. Provisioning and Deprovisioning
In keeping track of all identities connected to your network, you must ensure that every client, third-party vendor, partner, or employee receives the permissions they need to communicate with your business. Similarly, deprovisioning or removing these permissions from stakeholders once they leave the enterprise is equally important.
Solution: Identity Governance and Administration (IGA)
The answer to efficient provisioning and deprovisioning is IGA. Apart from helping your IT department define roles with set permissions in the organization, IGA also enables your company to immediately deprovision accounts after a stakeholder has left.
7. IoT security threats
One of the biggest challenges for telecom digital identity management is the security of IoT networks. An extensive network with billions of devices connected to the internet is an easy target for cyberattacks, resulting in information leakage and data breaches.
Solution: Biometrics authentication
In addressing IoT security threats, players in the telecom industry need to use online data protection tools such as VPNs, UICC-based mechanisms, and identity management solutions. For example, VPN encrypts your data to ensure network reliability and data protection. Similarly, biometrics authentication can verify the identities of your clients, employees, partners, or users in seconds.
8. External identities
In managing the identities of customers, partners, clients, and suppliers, an identity management system should be web-capable and scalable. Additionally, it should factor in federated identity, which plays a significant role in business transactions.
Solution: MFA, Federated Access Managements (FAM), or similar identity management systems
In providing access to data and applications across external stakeholders, identity management systems must secure identity information through MFA, FAM, or similar methods used for internal stakeholders.
Overcome These Challenges
The rapid growth of the telecom industry and the confidential data circulating in the network make telecom firms more vulnerable to security breaches and threats. For this reason, there is a need for accurate and reliable cybersecurity solutions.
Making these solutions simple yet effective with MFA and biometrics will help prevent password fatigue, weak authentication protocols, and data breaches. Thus, telecom companies need to integrate identity and access management systems in their cybersecurity.
With Q5id’s strong telecom expertise, you can encrypt your storage and simplify your digital identity management solutions using a patented system for transaction protection to address these challenges. Improve your identity and access management firsthand by contacting Q5id today.
