Sönke Schröder, Director of Global Go-To Market Strategy and Innovation for IoT, G+D discusses how Private 5G and IFPP are driving forward Industrial IoT
As industries embrace digital modernisation at scale, the need for ultra-reliable, secure, and low-latency connectivity has never been more important.
The modern industrial environment—whether a smart factory, a logistics hub, or a utility grid—is a dense ecosystem of sensors, machines, and connected assets requiring uninterrupted communication and instant data exchange. To meet these demands, the convergence of two emerging technologies—Private 5G networks and In-Factor Profile Provisioning (IFPP)—has quickly reimagined the entire sector for Industrial IoT (IIoT).
Private 5G brings the performance, control, and flexibility that industrial use cases demand. At the same time, IFPP ensures seamless and secure onboarding of connected devices at scale, from the moment they leave the factory floor. Together, these technologies provide a powerful framework for organisations seeking to modernise their operations, improve productivity, and reduce security risks—all while preparing for a more autonomous, data-driven future.
Reimagining industrial connectivity with Private 5G
Private 5G networks offer enterprises a dedicated, on-site cellular infrastructure tailored to the unique demands of industrial environments. Unlike public mobile networks, private 5G allows full ownership and control over network resources, data flow, and performance—essential in settings where security, compliance, and uptime are paramount.
These networks excel in delivering ultra-low latency, high throughput, and deterministic connectivity. This is particularly valuable for mission-critical applications such as autonomous robotics, real-time quality assurance, remote operations, and predictive maintenance. Network slicing—a feature unique to 5G—enables the isolation of resources for specific tasks or departments, ensuring that bandwidth and latency requirements are met without interference.
Private 5G also addresses many of the limitations associated with traditional industrial wireless solutions. Compared to Wi-Fi and public LTE, it offers improved interference mitigation, greater scalability, and higher reliability in harsh and high-density environments. This makes it well-suited for large-scale facilities where hundreds or thousands of devices must communicate consistently and securely.
Enhancing secure device onboarding with IFPP
While Private 5G ensures connectivity, a secure and scalable method of connecting and managing devices is just as significant. This is where IFPP comes into play.
IFPP introduces a new paradigm in device provisioning by embedding digital credentials directly at the point of manufacture or during first boot. This eliminates the need for manual configuration or in-field provisioning, dramatically reducing time-to-deploy and minimising security vulnerabilities. Devices can be authenticated and integrated into the network with zero-touch onboarding—a vital capability when dealing with diverse device types, from industrial sensors to autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs).
Security is enhanced by design. By provisioning credentials at the earliest stage, organisations maintain tight control over device identity and reduce the attack surface. Lifecycle management of device credentials—through over-the-air updates or revocations—further ensures that the ecosystem remains secure and resilient to evolving threats.
IFPP also simplifies compliance with stringent cybersecurity and data protection regulations, helping organisations establish traceability and auditability across their device landscape. This capability is essential as connected devices proliferate and play more critical roles in industrial processes.
Private 5G + IFPP: a converging force for scalable IIoT
When deployed in tandem, Private 5G and IFPP form a powerful foundation for modern IIoT systems. Together, they address two of the most pressing challenges in industrial digitisation: secure connectivity and seamless device onboarding.
Private 5G provides the robust communications infrastructure needed for real-time applications and Edge computing, while IFPP ensures that every device entering that ecosystem is authenticated, traceable, and manageable throughout its lifecycle. This combination enables industrial systems to operate more autonomously, respond to changing conditions in real-time, and avoid the costly delays associated with manual processes or network downtime.
The joint deployment supports advanced industrial scenarios—such as AI-enabled decision-making at the edge, decentralised control systems, and cross-facility orchestration—without compromising on security or scalability. It also facilitates integration with broader digital ecosystems, including Cloud platforms and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
Ultimately, this convergence is not merely a technical upgrade—it is a strategic enabler for resilient, future-ready industrial operations.
Addressing challenges to adoption
Despite the promise of Private 5G and IFPP, there are practical challenges to consider.
Cost remains a primary barrier, particularly for small and mid-sized enterprises. Initial investments in network infrastructure, spectrum licenses, and integration tools can be significant. However, these costs are declining as off-the-shelf components and managed services become more accessible.
Spectrum availability is another consideration. While some regions now offer dedicated spectrum for industrial use—such as Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) in the US and n79 in Europe—access policies and licensing frameworks still vary globally. Continued regulatory progress is needed to ensure broader adoption.
Integration complexity cannot be overlooked. Many industrial environments are characterised by legacy systems, proprietary interfaces, and siloed IT and OT infrastructures. This makes deploying new technologies complex. Modular, standards-based solutions like IFPP can ease this transition by enabling interoperability and gradual rollout strategies.
Talent gaps also pose a risk. Successfully deploying and managing Private 5G and IFPP often requires expertise in telecom, cybersecurity, and industrial automation—skills that may be scarce within traditional manufacturing or utility organisations. Upskilling existing teams and leveraging external partners will be critical to bridging this gap.
Private 5G networks and In-Factor Profile Provisioning together represent a transformative approach to Industrial IoT. Their convergence addresses the dual imperatives of secure connectivity and seamless device management—enabling enterprises to modernise with confidence.
As organisations look to improve agility, minimise downtime, and unlock new value from data, these technologies offer a future-proof path forward. They empower enterprises to operate with greater precision and resilience in an increasingly connected industrial world.
Sönke Schröder is the Director of Global Go-To-Market Strategy and Innovation for IoT Giesecke+Devrient (G+D), a global security tech company headquartered in Munich, Germany.
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