Security breaches likely in ATM and Frame Relay networks

A report by the Yankee Group shows that ATM and Frame Relay data networks are highly vulnerable to security breaches. According to the report, ATM and Frame Relay network carriers, application service and hosting providers, and corporations will spend $60 million in software to counteract transport security threats.

According to Matthew Kovar, senior analyst for the Yankee Group’s data communications planning service, access to the physical network infrastructure and known weaknesses of SNMP-based network management systems dominate the vulnerabilities of ATM and Frame Relay networks.

The Yankee Group identifies the following trends that are increasing the inherent risks to the security of ATM and Frame Relay networks:

• Increased access to the physical plant, building, LEC, and IXC

• Private lines provisioned over ATM SVCs/PVCs

• Increased third-party monitoring tools and technology, allowing monitoring of traffic from IP networks

• Development of third-party, service-level agreement validation service benchmarking companies

• IP-based network management systems that sit on LANs that are vulnerable to Internet-based attacks.

Additionally, this report outlines the various vulnerabilities and threats to ATM and Frame Relay data network services, as well as potential security product remedies. Yankee Group, www.yankeegroup.com .