All-Optical Networks: Security Issues Analysis

Abstract

All-optical networks (AONs) are emerging as a promising technology for future telecommunication and data networks. AONs provide huge transmission capacities and are mainly characterized by their transparency to the transmitted traffic. The characteristics of AONs are desirable in many respects, but they give rise to a new set of challenging issues in terms of network security that do not exist in traditional communication networks. The aim of this paper is to present a deep analysis of the security issues of AONs that distinguish them from traditional communication networks. In particular, we focus on the physical security aspect that differs significantly from that in electro-optic and electronic networks and that directly affects the physical infrastructure of AONs. The paper provides an analysis of the infrastructure vulnerabilities of AONs and shows how they can be exploited to perform attacks to the proper functioning of the network. Furthermore, it describes a set of scenarios that may be used to perform a service disruption or a tapping attack on an AON. Finally, it investigates the main challenging issues facing the efficient management of security attacks in AONs and presents a brief overview of the main proposed schemes for attack management in AONs.

Encryption and Decryption Based on Bit Scrambling Using LFSR and Chaos Masking to Combat the Security Attacks in Optical Communication

“…Although optical networks offer numerous advantages for high data rate communications, they have unique features and requirements in terms of security and management control that distinguish them from conventional communication networks. In particular, the special characteristics and components of optical networks also bring forth a set of security challenges, accompanied by new vulnerabilities in the network [4], [5]. To provide secure and reliable AON various security issues should be considered including physical security and information security.…”

“…In network security, vulnerability is a aw or weakness that may be exploited by an attacker to carry out a security physical attack. The peculiar characteristics and behaviors of the main components considered in deployment of an AON, such as optical bers, optical ampli ers, and optical switching nodes, make AONs vulnerable to various forms of attacks including high-power jamming, physical infrastructure attacks, denial of service, service disruption (degrades Quality of Service, tapping attacks (provides access to unauthorized users) [4], [5] which can be used for eavesdropping and tra c analysis.…”