Security Benefits of eSIMs Over SIM Cards for International Travel

eSIM technology allows you to change your SIM card by selecting it from an app or a browser. This is ideal for mobility workers and people who often travel for work because it eliminates the need to physically remove a SIM card in order to insert a new one. This is something that people who travel a lot do all the time in order to avoid roaming fees.

However, using eSIM technology instead of regular SIM cards on international trips is not just easier. It also provides you with a much higher level of cybersecurity. This is to help you understand some of the top security advantages of eSIM technology over SIM cards for anyone who’s often on international trips. 

1. Improved Physical Security

One of the things you need to keep in mind is that with eSIM there’s no physical card. This means that you can’t lose it while taking it out or swapping it, and it cannot be stolen without your entire device being stolen. 

A SIM card can be stolen and used for various criminal activities. Later, you may have a hard time proving your innocence or lack of involvement in the matter. Also, you have to keep in mind one thing: All of this only works when the card is swapped. If you have a habit of taking your card out from the phone often and putting it back in, chances are that you’ll drop it (most of these cards are micro-SIM in 2024), and you might be unable to find it. 

Someone else might pick it up, which would be a huge issue, considering how the majority of modern 2FA processes involve receiving a code in an SMS. So, if someone gets a hold of your SIM card, they can potentially take over all your online accounts. 

You may not know this, but eSIMs are built into your device, which means that they’re not taken out or swapped. Removable SIM cards can be tampered with, which is a huge security risk. 

Someone could have taken your card out, cloned it, and returned it to you without you even noticing. With eSIM, this won’t be possible. This is also one more reason you want to learn more about eSIMs. 

By removing the actual SIM card from the equation, you are only making your digital presence and overall presence more secure. Keep in mind that while it predates the digital era, your SIM card number is crucial in determining your overall online security. 

2. Universal Access to the Internet

Understanding the concepts of roaming and mobile data is crucial to understanding why you need an eSIM card. You see, your mobile data is your last line of defence. It’s something that allows you can access to the internet while in a foreign country and protects you from needing to log into a public or unknown Wi-Fi (which is a major cybersecurity threat). 

So, by having an eSIM, you’ll never put yourself in a scenario where you have to resort to public WiFi in order to avoid exposing yourself to roaming. An alternative would be not to have access to the internet, which would be even worse. 

In a foreign country, instructional videos won’t always be in English, which is why having access to an AI video translator may have a direct impact on your cybersecurity. You can use these translation services to improve your navigation and even understand the context of local cybersecurity tips.

While the majority of these scams are online, the truth is that there are a lot of endemic scams that the locals are familiar with, but you, as a visitor, a tourist, or a mobility worker, might struggle with.

By using translation services, you can receive the information in question and become familiar with everything else that’s going on. Listening to local advice is always welcome, but you can’t heed it if you can’t understand it. Even more importantly, you can’t get the translation you need without having the internet (a reliable connection). 

3. Lower risk of fraud

In order to buy a SIM card, you just have to approach the place where they’re sold and get one. With an eSIM, a more comprehensive identity verification process is involved. This already provides a much higher level of control, which guarantees a much lower risk of fraud. 

Another thing you should know is that eSIMs often work on the principle of signed digital certificates. This way, you can verify their authenticity and even ensure that the only thing that can be installed on the device is a legitimate profile. 

The communication between the device and the carrier’s servers is encrypted, which means that the activation process cannot be intercepted. The level of encryption is pretty high, which ensures that there’s an incredibly low chance that something bad will happen. 

Even if something unsanctioned is to happen, you need to keep in mind audit trails and monitoring. In other words, you can track all the eSIM activity, including when the profile-switching was made, who made it, etc. 

4. Seamless Continuity

Just managing all your SIM cards can be incredibly difficult. You could lose some without even being aware that you’ve lost them, and these cards can be used to harm you in a very direct way. With eSIM cards, you won’t have to worry about this SIM card “residue.”

Just think about it this way: swapping and managing your cards is really not that difficult of a task, especially in a scenario where you’re not just traveling between 2-3 locations. With two locations, you could always get a phone with a dual SIM and keep both cards on your phone. In this scenario, such a thing would be the simplest and the cheapest solution to the problem. 

Even in a scenario with three locations, you would keep your home SIM and rotate the second one. In this scenario, you just have one SIM card to watch out for when it’s out of the phone, and you’re done with it. 

What would happen if you had dozens of these SIM cards? What if you lose one and have to replace it? Now, it’s a new number that your partners may not recognize. This may cause a lot of confusion, even having them block your number after they receive an email because they don’t recognize it and assume that it’s unsolicited (which increases the risk that it’s a scam). 

With an eSIM, you’ll just have to tap and switch the “card” on your phone. The process is as simple as changing the brightness of your screen. Once you get used to it, you’ll do it without giving it much thought, and you’ll be able to ensure seamless continuity of connection no matter where you go. 

5. Regulatory compliance standards

Since you probably don’t know much about eSIMs, chances are that you’re unaware of the fact that they have to adhere to international security standards and regulations. We’re talking about standards set by regulatory bodies like GSMA (Groupe Speciale Mobile Association). This includes: 

• GSMA SGP.01: A specification that outlines the architecture, security requirements, and processes for remote SIM provisioning for consumer devices. 

• GSMA SGP.02: This document details the technical specifications and procedures for the secure download, installation, and management of eSIM profiles. 

• GSMA SGP.21/22: These specifications define the framework for remote SIM provisioning in M2M (Machine-to-Machine) and IoT (Internet of Things) applications, emphasizing security and interoperability.

These compliance standards will also insist on the fact that the encryption and authentication standards are honoured, as well as that the right data protection and privacy regulations are honoured. 

For instance, eSIM deployments in Europe have to be compliant with GDPR. This is mandatory, and it allows all users to have direct control over their personal data. In the United States, CCPA will impose requirements on how the data associated with this eSIM is collected. 

Just saying that it abides by compliance is not enough. These eSIMs have to undergo rigorous testing in order to ensure that they meet industry standards for functionality, security, and interoperability. 

After it passes these tests, it is awarded a certification under a certain programme. There are multiple such certification programs which exist to validate that eSIMs and related infrastructure comply with the standards that are established. 

Most importantly, this is a never-ending process that includes regular security audits and vulnerability assessments. 

eSIM: A safer and more consistent option for all your needs

The use of eSIMs is a lot simpler, but this simplicity has a direct way of spilling into a higher level of cybersecurity. If someone were to get a hold of your SIM card, clone it, or do anything similar to it, they would put your entire digital identity at risk.

Having this happen to you while you’re abroad is the last thing you need. This is why this extra level of security you get with eSIM technology makes a significant difference. 

Author: Srdjan Gombar  

Veteran content writer, published author, and amateur boxer. Srdjan has a Bachelor of Arts in English Language & Literature and is passionate about technology, pop culture, and self-improvement. In his free time, he reads, watches movies, and plays Super Mario Bros. with his son.