Telecom networks are the backbone of the digital economy. They must deliver secure, always-on connectivity at scale, supporting everything from critical national infrastructure to everyday consumer services. But cyber resilience today is no longer defined by uptime alone. It is about the ability to withstand, detect, and respond to highly targeted cyber threats that are designed to exploit the very fabric of telecom environments.
Telecom operators face a threat landscape unlike any other. Obrela’s Digital Universe Report H1 2025 reveals that 95% of detected incidents in the sector are industry-specific. Rather than relying on generic phishing or commodity malware, attackers focus on manipulating core network functions, subscriber data environments, and provisioning systems. These precise attacks are engineered to remain undetected, often persisting for months while exposing highly sensitive communications data.
Advanced persistent threat groups such as APT41, Gallium, and LightBasin have repeatedly targeted telecom providers, not to trigger immediate disruption but to silently observe, collect intelligence, and embed themselves within critical infrastructure. At the same time, regulatory scrutiny is intensifying. As global telecommunication infrastructure increasingly comes under attack, operators are expected to demonstrate robust protection of both customer and corporate data. Frameworks such as the EU’s NIS2 Directive require continuous risk management, proven detection capabilities, and timely incident reporting. In the UK, Ofcom now has the authority to penalise operators that fail to detect or escalate incidents promptly.
Why traditional security falls short
Telecom environments are inherently complex. Legacy systems coexist with cloud-native platforms and extensive third-party integrations, making them difficult to secure using static, signature-based tools. Modern adversaries increasingly rely on fileless techniques and “living off the land” tactics that evade conventional malware detection altogether.
As a result, compliance on paper is no longer sufficient. Regulators are looking for evidence that operators can detect and respond to stealthy, persistent threats in real operational conditions, not just demonstrate the presence of security controls.
MDR as the new operational standard
This is where Obrela’s Managed Detection and Response (MDR), combined with Managed Risk & Controls (MRC) for governance, risk, and compliance, becomes critical. MDR delivers continuous monitoring, rapid response, and expert-led investigation across complex telecom environments. These capabilities align directly with both regulatory expectations and the operational realities telecom operators face.
With response times measured in minutes rather than hours or days, MDR helps contain threats before they result in material impact. At the same time, it supports regulatory reporting, escalation workflows, and audit readiness. MDR does not replace existing security investments; it strengthens them by closing the detection and response gap that traditional controls leave exposed.
Context, intelligence, and oversight
True cyber resilience in telecoms is not about generating more alerts. It is about context and insight. Understanding what “normal” looks like across highly dynamic networks, and identifying subtle deviations early is essential.
Obrela’s MDR combines behavioural analytics, telecom-specific threat intelligence, and continuous human oversight to deliver both operational defence and regulatory assurance. This intelligence-led approach allows operators to move from reactive incident handling to proactive resilience.
Telecom operators have long engineered resilience into their physical networks. Applying the same discipline to cybersecurity is now essential. When implemented effectively, MDR enables a continuous, regulator-ready, and intelligence-driven approach to cyber resilience—one that reflects the strategic importance of telecom infrastructure in today’s digital economy.
