Over seven billion SIM cards are in active use globally making them the most widely used security token in the world. Over-the-air (OTA) updates can be deployed by SMS which allows the SIMs to be updated remotely. However, lift engineers have concerns relating to SIM hacking which could mean soaring premium rate bills.
How secure are SIMs?
The security of SIMs depends on the type of SIM that you use. If a lift engineer purchases an off-the-shelf consumer SIM card, which connects to the public internet rather than a private network, then this will be less secure and there is a risk of data being intercepted. Often SIM providers will provide a private APN (Access Point Name) accessed through a VPN (Virtual Private Network). This provides a secure tunnel for data to be transferred, preventing anyone unwanted from accessing the data or interacting with a deployed device.
How Avire Global makes SIM cards safe lift components
At Avire Global, we are committed to providing solutions that provide peace of mind to our customers and we adopt a number of measures to ensure the security of our SIMs.
- Avire has its own private APN for our SIMs which means that the SIMs and our devices work through a private network not on the public internet. Only the Avire Hub server will access this private network through a VPN tunnel which gives the assurance that information sent will not be compromised and performance remains consistent. In addition, SIMs cannot access the wider internet either, adding an extra layer of protection.
- Each SIM has its own passcode from the manufacturer that can be changed or removed, this is as standard on all SIM cards.
- The Avire Digital Communication Platform and gateway also can create a PIN to access the SIM that is different to the SIM PIN and unlocks an encryption of the SIM PIN itself, meaning that the SIM PIN is hidden and only the Avire device associated with that SIM can gain access. This prevents SIM cards from being inserted into other devices if stolen.
- When programming the device by SMS, there is a PIN associated with the device itself that prevents anyone without access to this PIN from changing device settings.
- Finally, it is possible for a lift engineer to blacklist (block) or whitelist (only allow) certain numbers, meaning that they can ensure only numbers they approve can phone or be phoned from the device. This blocks attempts by unknown people to program devices by plugging in a handset.
If you would like to find out more about what Avire can offer you then please don’t hesitate to contact our team for more information. Click here to contact us.
