- Keysight’s Recep Ozdag warns that private 5G in industry brings hidden security risks.
- Critical sectors face disruption if networks deploy without strong safeguards.
What happened: Keysight’s Recep Ozdag flags hidden 5G risks
Keysight’s Recep Ozdag has raised concerns about the deployment of private 5G networks in industrial environments. He explained that while private 5G promises faster connectivity, lower latency, and greater reliability, the technology also introduces hidden vulnerabilities.
These include the possibility of unsecured devices gaining access to core networks, misconfigured security policies, and the complexity of integrating operational technology with information technology systems. Ozdag pointed out that industrial operators are often more focused on performance gains than on building robust security measures from the outset.
According to Keysight, the rapid push to adopt private 5G, especially in manufacturing, energy, and transport sectors, creates the risk that security will be treated as an afterthought. This oversight could leave critical infrastructure open to attacks or misuse, undermining the very advantages that private 5G aims to deliver.
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Why it’s important
The warning from Keysight’s Recep Ozdag is significant because private 5G is rapidly evolving into the backbone of modern industry, powering automation, remote monitoring, and data-driven operations across manufacturing, logistics, and energy.
While these networks promise efficiency and resilience, they also increase dependence on complex infrastructures that, if compromised, could cause widespread disruption. The risk is intensified by the fact that many enterprises deploying private 5G are still maturing their cyber-security capabilities, leaving gaps for attackers to exploit.
Reports across the telecoms and cybersecurity sectors underline the same concerns, noting that industrial IoT devices are often rolled out without regular patching, while the convergence of operational technology and IT exposes previously isolated systems to new vulnerabilities. Regulators and governments have begun to recognise the strategic importance of securing private 5G, given its potential impact on critical national infrastructure.
