How safe are eSIM? 

Transformation often raises the specter of the unknown. When that happens, doubt is an understandable response. 

When new ground is broken in any industry, it's inevitable that consumers and insiders alike will raise concerns. A technological advancement that reshapes the status quo can be perceived as a threat, even if closer inspection proves it to be an opportunity. 

The eSIM is one such advancement, as it continues to revolutionize telecommunications and IoT. The mobile industry has already been irreversibly altered by the proliferation of embedded SIM chips, and the momentum of these changes only continues to build. 

For those with sufficient foresight there are exciting opportunities to be seized. It's nothing but a positive, but one question that persists in relation both to eSIM and the IoT is that of security. 

The best thing to do when confronted with these questions is not to dismiss them. Security risks are a major issue, so furnishing people with more information is the best way to dispel any instinctive objections to an undeniably beneficial technology. 

The eSIM 

An embedded SIM chip is built directly into a device's hardware during the manufacturing process. This removes the need for a physically removable SIM card, opening a range of new possibilities. 

This chip is much smaller than its predecessor, so an eSIM-enabled device has more space for other features. It can also be fully waterproofed, as the components of the device are now self-contained. 

With an eSIM, plans and contracts are downloaded directly, so connecting your device and getting online can take literally seconds. Out-of-the-box connectivity empowers consumers and allows for a more streamlined user experience. 

Another advantage of the embedded SIM is how it optimizes the Internet of Things (IoT). The eSIM makes any piece of hardware a potential ‘smart’ element within an IoT ecosystem, and that's been great news for individual consumers and industry giants alike. 

Connection & security 

The SIM is the network gateway to any connected device so the issue of hacking has often been raised in relation to eSIM and its remote provisioning options. 

A frequently voiced concern centers around the secure connection between SIMs and network operators. A device that carries a regular SIM has an encrypted link to the specific MNO. That connection is coded and secured against tampering or hacking. 

An eSIM gives users the power to download a profile directly onto their phone. This means, in theory, that hackers might be able to push a new profile onto someone else's device and take control of it. However, the GSMA already responded to this potential situation long before the technology was even launched. 

Data protection

The GSMA mandates the use of a unique key that seeks verification through third-party servers whenever someone requests a new profile. This is referred to as Subscription Management Data Protection (SM-DP+). 

With this in place, a device that attempts to download a new profile will trigger an SM-DP+ request, which will be confirmed by an operator. The provisioning process will then proceed as normal, as the unique code could only have originated with the device in question. 

Secure devices 

It's not just a matter of putting people at ease, however. SIMs actively improve security. For one thing, they minimize the impact of device theft. 

In older generations of smartphone or wearable, the removable SIM card was a risk factor. It made it easy for someone to strip the device of connectivity and old profile by simply pulling the original SIM. 

This isn’t possible with an embedded chip. An eSIM cannot be removed, and unless the person trying to change the profile knows a specific security key, they won't be able to overwrite the current profile. Not only does this make reselling stolen devices harder, but it also makes recovering them easier. The moment an eSIM-enabled smartphone is switched on it can connect and make itself traceable by the authorities. 

Industrial Safety 

This tracking capability has also proven to be extremely useful on a larger, industrial scale. Vehicles, equipment, and any other hardware with eSIM connectivity can be located at all times, so accidental loss or deliberate theft can be quickly remedied. 

Now, as eSIM have become normalized and widespread, the benefits are evident. Security comes from connection, from being able to keep track, stay in touch, and protect our devices. That's exactly what the eSIM has allowed us to do.