arxiv_crypto 90% Match Research Paper Network architects,Telecom engineers,Security professionals,Standardization bodies,Researchers in network management 1 month ago

Managing Differentiated Secure Connectivity using Intents

ai-safety › robustness

📄 Abstract

Abstract: Mobile networks in the 5G and 6G era require to rethink how to manage security due to the introduction of new services, use cases, each with its own security requirements, while simultaneously expanding the threat landscape. Although automation has emerged as a key enabler to address complexity in networks, existing approaches lack the expressiveness to define and enforce complex, goal-driven, and measurable security requirements. In this paper, we propose the concept of differentiated security levels and leveraging intents as a management framework. We discuss the requirements and enablers to extend the currently defined intent-based management frameworks to pave the path for intent-based security management in mobile networks. Our approach formalizes both functional and non-functional security requirements and demonstrates how these can be expressed and modeled using an extended TM Forum (TMF) intent security ontology. We further discuss the required standardization steps to achieve intent-based security management. Our work aims at advance security automation, improve adaptability, and strengthen the resilience and security posture of the next-generation mobile networks.

Key Contributions

This paper proposes using intents as a management framework for differentiated security levels in mobile networks (5G/6G). It formalizes functional and non-functional security requirements and demonstrates how they can be expressed using an extended TM Forum security ontology, paving the way for intent-based security management.

Business Value

Allows telecom operators to offer tailored security services for different applications and users, improving network resilience and enabling new business models based on differentiated security guarantees.

Paper Metadata

Innovation Type

Framework/Methodology

Deployment Feasibility

Moderate, requires standardization efforts and integration into network management systems and orchestration platforms.

Limitations Addressed

Addresses the limitations of existing automation approaches in network management, which lack the expressiveness to define and enforce complex, goal-driven, and measurable security requirements in dynamic mobile network environments.

Performance Gains

Enables more expressive and automated management of complex security requirements, improving network security and adaptability.

Technical Tags

Mobile network security5G/6G networksIntent-based networkingDifferentiated securitySecurity managementAutomationNetwork functionsSecurity requirementsTM ForumOntology

Research Topics

Network SecurityTelecommunicationsNetwork ManagementAutomationAI in Networking

Methods & Architectures

Intent-based management frameworkDifferentiated security levelsSecurity ontology (extended TMF)Formalization of security requirements

Applications & Tasks

Telecommunications Mobile Networks Network Security Cloud Networking Network ManagementSecurity Policy EnforcementAutomationRequirement Specification Managing differentiated security levels in mobile networksDefining and enforcing complex security requirements using intentsAutomating security management in 5G/6G networks

Related Fields

TelecommunicationsNetwork EngineeringComputer SecuritySoftware EngineeringAI for Networking

Keywords

mobile networks5G6Gsecurity managementintent-based networkingdifferentiated securityautomationnetwork functionsTM Forumontologysecurity requirements

Academic Context

#Network Security#Telecommunications#Network Management#Automation#AI in Networking

Companies & Organizations

Companies Mentioned

TM Forum

Technology Stack

Frameworks & Libraries

Intent-based management frameworksTM Forum (TMF) intent security ontology

Commercial Potential

Potential Products

Intent-based network security management platformsAutomated security orchestration tools for 5G/6G

Target Industries

TelecommunicationsCloud ComputingEnterprise NetworkingIoT

Use Case Examples

Configuring specific security policies for IoT devices vs. high-bandwidth video streamingAutomating security responses to network threats based on defined intentsProviding guaranteed security levels for mission-critical applications over mobile networks

Competitive Edge

Proposes a novel approach to network security management using intents, offering greater expressiveness and automation than traditional configuration-based methods.

Market Opportunity

Large and growing market for advanced mobile network management and security solutions.

Revenue Models

Licensing of management softwareconsulting services for network security implementation.

Resource Requirements

Compute Needs

Moderate, for the management and orchestration systems.

Data Requirements

Requires network configuration data and security policies.

Deployment Constraints

Requires industry-wide adoption of intent-based frameworks and standardization of security ontologies.

Scalability

Designed to be scalable for large and complex mobile networks.

Regulatory Considerations

Telecommunication regulationsData privacy lawsSecurity standards for critical infrastructure

Production Readiness

Maturity Level

Research/Conceptual

Time to Market

3-5 years for standardization and integration into commercial network products.

Patent Potential

Moderate, for specific implementations of intent-based security management.

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