New software may contain bugs. ONA not only increases the amount of software used, ONA also greatly increases the number of users who have access to network software, and the number of levels of access to the software. By giving more users access to network software, ONA increases the potential for hostile users. ONA increases vulnerabilities associated with system integrity. For example, if carriers do not adequately plan for the increased real-time switch capacity associated with the unbundling of services, the integrity of network element systems will be affected.
Services requiring distributed intelligence are likely to introduce vulnerabilities.
As Intelligent Network concepts are merged into networks based on ONA requirements, many vulnerabilities will result. As the number of new services increases and the complexity of new services increases, the potential for vulnerabilities associated with new services increases. ONA increases the potential for vulnerabilities associated with feature interaction problems. Weakness in one carrier's networks will potentially insert vulnerabilities into another carrier's networks if the networks are interconnected. Depending on the degree that a carrier investigates the credentials of an ESP, as well as the degree of security provided by the ESP, before allowing the ESP access to the PSN, ONA increases the potential for unauthorized access.