A report from the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) helps enterprises integrate private 5G securely into existing IT and wifi environments.

The blueprint defines a unified zero-trust framework to help the whole connected ecosystem protect digital operations and accelerate transformation to converged wifi and private 5G networks.

The report defines a unified security framework and guidelines that help enterprises integrate private 5G into existing IT and wifi environments while protecting critical operations against evolving cyber threats. It introduces a converged zero-trust model built on open standards and shared policies, enabling organisations to deliver secure, interoperable and resilient enterprise networks.

As digital transformation accelerates across manufacturing, healthcare, logistics and energy, organisations are turning to private 5G to connect mission-critical systems, automate processes and enable new business models. But digital transformation can also expand the attack surface, meaning potential greater exposure to cyber-security risks, including data breaches, intellectual property theft and operational disruption. The report provides practical guidance to help enterprises unify policies across wired and wireless domains, helping fuel innovation while safeguarding intellectual property and business continuity.

The “Enterprise Security for Private 5G Networks” report defines a common language and framework for secure, converged wireless deployments, with insights and benefits for each part of the connected ecosystem.

To achieve seamless and secure connectivity, enterprises must unify security across all wireless domains. The report distils collaboration between global operators, vendors and enterprise security experts into a practical blueprint.

Insights covered in the report include:

• Unified security architecture: Private 5G and Wifi 6, 6E and7 are complementary technologies. When combined under a single zero-trust framework, users get the best of both worlds: reliable, secure, flexible connectivity precisely where it is needed.
• PxGrid integration: The PxGrid protocol provides secure, bidirectional data exchange between wifi, 5G and enterprise systems. This ensures consistent identity management, access control and threat intelligence sharing across a network.
• Zero-trust implementation: Continuous verification, micro-segmentation and dynamic policy enforcement reduce lateral movement and enhance defence across wired and wireless domains.
• AI and edge intelligence: Multi-access edge computing and AI-driven analytics strengthen security posture by enabling real-time anomaly detection, local decision-making and automated threat response.
• Open standards and interoperability: Rest APIs, WebSocket and PxGrid are enablers for cross-vendor compatibility, unified management and simplified deployment within complex enterprise ecosystems.
• Immediate security priority: Security must be foundational from the start of private 5G adoption, not an afterthought, to safeguard mission-critical operations and maintain business continuity.

The report encapsulates the phase-one work of this WBA workstream, establishing the policy and architectural foundation for converged enterprise security. Phase two will advance to operational security intelligence in private 5G and converged wifi networks.

Download the report at wballiance.com/wba-enterprise-security-for-private-5g-networks.

“Private 5G represents the next frontier of enterprise connectivity, but with its potential comes new complexity and risk,” said Tiago Rodrigues, CEO of the WBA (wballiance.com). “By bringing wifi and 5G under a common security framework, the industry can accelerate digital transformation without compromising resilience or interoperability. This report sets out a clear path to secure, converged networks built on open standards, zero-trust design and shared threat intelligence.”