Software Defined Mobile Networks (SDMN)

18Security Aspects of SDMN

Edgardo Montes de Oca and Wissam Mallouli

Montimage EURL, Paris, France

18.1 Overview

This chapter presents the security issues introduced by software defined networking (SDN), network function virtualization (NFV), and future mobile networks that integrate these technologies to become software defined mobile networks (SDMNs). Even though existing fault management and network security solutions used in traditional networks are sometimes also applicable in SDMN, the concepts introduced by these technologies bring new opportunities, challenges, and vulnerabilities that need to be investigated or addressed.

The introduction of centralized controllers, network virtualization, programmability, and NFV; the separation of the control plane and the data plane; the introduction of new network functions; and even the introduction of new stakeholders such as mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) will all have impact on how security needs to be assured and managed.

To better understand these issues, in Section 18.2, we present an overview of the state of the art; in Section 18.3, we give a more detailed analysis of security monitoring techniques; and in Section 18.4, other important issues are presented: reaction and mitigation techniques, economic viability, and secure services.

18.2 State of the Art and Security Challenges in SDMN Architectures

Existing security techniques applied or applicable in SDMN will be presented in this section, including techniques ...