Pay-TV can't leave its head in the clouds when it comes to content security

Everyone from Hollywood studios to live sports broadcasters to pay-TV service providers must now leverage the power of OTT and cloud technologies to distribute content securely over IP networks to consumers.

Not that the process of cloudification is straightforward, of course; pay-TV operators - and indeed anyone interested in harnessing cloud technologies - still face the big question of security.

And if you also consider the impending 5G revolution, the question is only amplified. In a world where the demand for high-quality content - delivered anytime, anywhere, and on any device - is higher than ever, service providers are going to have their work cut out for them.

Vastly increased numbers of devices with high bandwidth access to streaming services on mobile, plus an elevated use of virtualization and the cloud, could equate to many more security threats - not to mention a broader, multifaceted attack surface.

In response to these threats, and to ensure a strong and healthy future, the pay-TV industry must maintain a laser focus on security alongside effective cloud migration.

They have to simplify operations and reduce overheads, while still meeting all relevant Hollywood and sports rights holder requirements for content protection.

They must also look to rationalize architectures by selecting a scalable, modular, cloud-based solution to unify all aspects of their content protection needs - regardless of which network or device they're delivering content to.

And of course, it's critical to work with a partner who could deliver a solution specifically designed for converged networks - but one that's also easy to deploy and addresses our need for scale and global reach.

Vodafone, for example, recently selected and deployed the cloud-based NAGRA Security Services Platform (cloud.SSP), to secure its multi-network TV service, Vodafone TV (VTV), across several countries. Cloud.SSP enabled Vodafone to secure multiple network types - including IPTV, hybrid broadcast and OTT - using a single content protection platform, as well as streamline all device use cases by combining the NAGRA Connect client for converged CAS/DRM content protection on set-top boxes along with comprehensive multi-DRM support for open devices.

Similarly, the increased availability of Internet-connected Smart TVs opens exciting new possibilities making it possible to move all the content security technology into the TV chipsets and TV set software stacks - all while managing headend security from the cloud.

This is what NAGRA and Samsung set to achieve with TVkey Cloud. Building on the existing TVkey specification deployed in the market today, TVkey Cloud combines the security capabilities of the TVkey embedded hardware in the TV with sophisticated security management systems in the cloud

allowing viewers to access to all the content they love, directly on their new smart Samsung TV sets, no device needed.

This level of cloud security ultimately benefits everyone; new smart TV sets offer more convenience and value, pay-TV service providers can simplify customer acquisition and extend their market reach with secure OTT content delivery, and consumers get access to the content they love.

With solutions like these, the promise of instant customer acquisition, without hardware, without entry barriers, and at a lower cost for consumers (and crucially, all while protecting content) can begin to come to fruition.

As we look to the next generation of content security, operators must harness solutions that leverage the cloud and address every content protection need, providing a scalable and modular system for managing multiple environments across existing and newer generation STBs. This means going beyond simple CAS and DRM management, to give service providers complete control of content value protection across all their networks, devices and use cases, along with anti-piracy services and tools like forensic watermarking, that provide additional security measures to keep premium content secure.

As more content goes over the top, demands on content security will only grow and evolve as user devices become the default consumption platform.

Looking ahead to Mobile World Congress, 2019 and beyond, with conversations dominated by the prospect of anytime, anywhere content delivery, the key will be to stay on top of new content security challenges as they arise.

NAGRA can help you reach your content security goals and leverage the cloud in the new OTT economy. Contact us for more information.

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