Enhance Your Network Security And Performance With Up-To-Date Cellular Routers
Network Security Begins With Timely Upgrades And Patches
In today's interconnected world, safeguarding your network's security and efficiency is paramount. However, it's not a one-time task. Security is a dynamic field, continually shifting with emerging threats and evolving standards.
As you navigate this ever-changing landscape, keeping your edge network devices - especially cellular routers - up to date with the latest firmware upgrades and security patches from their manufacturers is essential. This can be challenging with devices that have reached the end of their support life, where upgrading to newer solutions often becomes the most viable choice.
The Importance Of Keeping Your Routers Up To Date
Securing your network is a never-ending initiative, as threat actors seek out bugs and vulnerabilities to exploit. Just as we eagerly update smartphones or laptops to the latest operating system, it's equally - if not more - important to keep cellular routers synchronized with the latest security features and patches from your manufacturer.
Failure to install these patches or carry out firmware updates leaves your network vulnerable to attacks.
So, what's the solution? Proactively monitoring and managing your routers.
The ability to deploy patches promptly and efficiently across your entire fleet of routers is crucial, necessitating remote device management capabilities. For instance, the SemTech AirLink® Management Service (ALMS) platform enables you to monitor your AirLink® routers' status and deploy new firmware and security patches over the air at scale. You can conduct fleet-wide firmware upgrade campaigns with automatic retry capabilities and receive detailed results reporting.
However, a challenge arises when your routers reach their end-of-support date and can no longer receive firmware updates and security patches.
When Should You Refresh Your Routers?
Routers, like all tech devices, follow a lifecycle. Network architects must take a forward-thinking approach to network modernization. By actively managing hardware lifecycles, they can keep their networks ahead - ready for emerging tech advancements and resilient against new threats.
As routers near their end-of-life phase, or if they're already there, they may no longer be eligible for firmware upgrades and security patches from the manufacturer. Even if it functions well, continued use of such hardware can leave networks vulnerable to new security threats. This is especially critical in vital infrastructure where security breaches could have severe consequences.
Consider this scenario: You've relied on a 4G router in your SCADA infrastructure for nearly a decade. It's been dependable, leading you to believe a replacement isn't necessary. However, a recently disclosed vulnerability in a third-party component leaves your router open to potential attacks. You can't benefit from manufacturer security responses since it's now end-of-life and beyond its support period.
Every new vulnerability discovered after a device becomes unsupported poses a risk to your network. This could impact regulatory compliance, increase liability, and harm your reputation. Therefore, when you receive an end-of-support notice for an in-use device, it's a clear signal to plan for a refresh.
The Importance Of Registering Your Semtech Routers
When you purchase an AirLink Router, you’ll be promoted to “register your router,” which MCA’s CNS Team will do during deployment. The primary reason for registration is to activate your included AirLink Service subscription and fully utilize SemTech’s cloud management platform – ALMS.
At MCA, we value SemTech as a trusted partner because they don’t just provide a router. They understand that connecting your critical assets extends beyond mere deployment. It demands real-time visibility, robust security, and proactive management of large-scale networks across multiple locations. SemTech’s routers come with comprehensive service subscriptions that grant access to ALMS, a centralized platform for remote configuration, management, and monitoring of AirLink routers.
Even if you're not currently considering using SemTech’s cloud management platform, there are many other compelling reasons to register your devices:
Streamline Router Administration
Like registering your brand-new TV for access to support and warranty services, registering your AirLink routers on ALMS centralizes support and services for convenient access.
ALMS serves not only as a cloud management platform but also as an invaluable tool for streamlining the administration of your router fleet. As the 'System of Record,' it tracks important dates associated with your routers, alerting you when support and warranty expiration dates approach, simplifying renewal management. Think of it as a personal assistant, meticulously tracking crucial dates and alleviating the burden from your shoulders.
Safeguard Your Deployment
Registering your router validates device ownership, like placing a personal ID tag on it, deterring unauthorized access. While rare, unclaimed devices pose a security risk, malicious actors could claim them in their account, gaining access to your deployed router. Registration eliminates this risk.
By registering your routers on ALMS, you can effortlessly stay updated with the latest fixes and features, applying critical firmware and security updates seamlessly.
Consider a scenario: A new zero-day vulnerability requires urgent firmware updates, and time sensitivity is paramount. Customers may have to manually retrieve thousands of devices from the field or dispatch technicians to apply updates.
With registered routers, a simple adjustment to firewall rules enables device communication with ALMS. Over-the-air software updates can be applied to the entire device fleet with a few clicks, avoiding cumbersome manual processes.
About MCA and Our CNS Team
MCA is one of the largest and most trusted integrators in the United States, offering world-class voice, data, and security solutions that enhance the quality, safety, and productivity of customers, operations, and lives. More than 65,000 customers trust MCA to provide carefully researched solutions for a safe, secure, and more efficient workplace.
Our Cellular Networking Solutions (CNS) team (formerly known as USAT) is made up of certified experts in designing and deploying fixed and mobile wireless data connectivity solutions for public and private enterprises nationwide - complete with implementation, training, proof of concept (POC), system auditing, and on-site RF surveying services with optional engineering maintenance contracts.
Our extensive Semtech catalog of world-class routers, gateways, and software designed for remote monitoring and management in even the harshest environments allows us to deliver a full suite of reliable technologies capped with a service-first approach.
Share this Post
