Resilient and Secure Multi-controller Communication Platform for 5G Networks

Project Information

RESPONSE 5G

Grant agreement ID: 789658

DOI

10.3030/789658

Project terminated on 10 December 2020

EC signature date 21 March 2018

Start date 1 November 2018

End date 14 January 2021

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 187 866,00

EU contribution

€ 187 866,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN
Ireland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - RESPONSE 5G (Resilient and Secure Multi-controller Communication Platform for 5G Networks)

Reporting period: 2018-11-01 to 2020-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

In modern digital societies, mobile networks provide connectivity that is crucial for the operation of all other critical infrastructures such as energy, transport, etc. Thus, a disruption in the telecommunication infrastructure will lead to severe social and economic consequences. These disruptions often have unpredictable causes such as cyber-attacks, natural catastrophes, technical and human errors. Thus, there is an urgent need to strengthen mobile networks against both cyber and physical threats. Responding to these threats has been identified as a priority by the EU. Future 5th-Generation (5G) mobile networks will be designed using Software Defined Networking (SDN) and network virtualization principles to transform rigid and disparate legacy mobile networks into scalable and dynamic ecosystems. In large-scale SDN networks such as mobile networks, multiple SDN controllers are used to controlling different network segments. Inter-Controller Communication (ICC) between these multiple SDN controllers is necessary to share control information and to perform important network management functions. If ICC is compromised, then the whole system will be compromised regardless of what happens in the rest of the network. Inevitably, 5G ICC is also vulnerable to a wide range of cyber and physical threats.
Since the existing SDN security systems cannot provide a sufficient level of security for 5G ICC against both cyber and physical threats, the RESPONSE-5G project focused on the implementation and validation of a robust and secure Multi-Controller Communication Platform for 5G Networks which includes prevention and mitigation against both cyber and physical attacks. The project investigated the State-of-the-Art (SotA) of secure Inter-Controller Communication, to identify the strengths, weaknesses, and possible attacks. Moreover, it has analyzed the correlation between the gathered security requirements of different 5G use cases and defines the security requirement for a practical 5G communication Channel. Then, the project has focused on gathering information on existing security solutions and their applicability to east/west-bound communication. Also, the project has focused on how SDN and NFV can be used to design new security mechanisms and protocols. Thus, RESPONSE-5G had far-reaching impacts in the domains of 5G security. Through this fellowship, the fellow has obtained advanced research skills and developed abilities in technology transfer and industry engagement, in order to fully exploit these impacts.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

This project has investigated the State-of-the-Art (SotA) of secure Inter-Controller Communication and identified the strengths, weaknesses, and possible attacks. By analyzing the gathered security requirements of different 5G use cases, we have defined the security requirement for a practical 5G communication Channel. Then, we evaluate the existing security solutions and their applicability to east/west-bound communication. Moreover, we analyzed how SDN and NFV can be used to design new security mechanisms and protocols. Based on the finding of the project, the fellow has published 13 research publications. Moreover, he has organized three workshops and seven tutorials at prestigious IEEE conferences.

In addition to the scientific achievements, the fellowship has also focused on the interpersonal and research skill development of the fellow. To improve fellow's research networking skills, the Fellow has contributed to organizing six international conferences by serving different chair positions (I.e. Demo Chair, Publicity Chair, Local Arrangement Chair, Ph.D. Student Forum Co-Chair, Poster Chair, Publicity Chair). During the fellow have supervised/co-supervised 4 PhD students, 6 master students, and 4 final year projects. In addition, he has co-lectured and/or designed 4 modules in 3 different universities.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

With the research, teaching and outreach activities described above, the Fellow has achieved the goal of the project, i.e. received an assistant professor offer from University College Dublin, Ireland already at M08 and started in M12 of the project. Moreover, the research, teaching, management skills acquired in the project will also significantly contribute to the Fellow’s career in the mid and long term.

Also, the research work carried out during the fellowship has helped the fellow to received two awards i.e. IEEEr8 ComSoc Outstanding Young Researcher Award (2020) and Outstanding Research Award 2020 at School of Computer Science, University College Dublin, Ireland. Moreover, fellowship has also helped the fellow to elevated as a senior member of IEEE in May 2020

The research outcome of the projects are highly cited.
For Instance
• Rabia Khan, Pardeep Kumar, Dush Nalin. Jayakody, Madhusanka Liyanage, ”A Survey on Security and Privacy of 5G Technologies: Potential Solutions, Recent Advancements and Future Directions”, in IEEE Communications Survey and Tutorials, 2020 (Impact Factor : 23.700 Q1) – 84 Citations
• An Braeken, Madhusanka Liyanage, Pardeep Kumar, John Murphy, “Novel 5G Authentication Protocol to Improve the Resistance against Active Attacks and Malicious Serving Networks”, in IEEE Access Journal 2019 (Impact Factor: 4.098 Q1) – 20 Citations
Moreover, The journal paper “A Survey on Security and Privacy of 5G Technologies: Potential Solutions, Recent Advancements and Future Directions” remains the Top50 Accessed papers of IEEE Communications Survey and Tutorials journal for the last 15 months (since 2020 January).

Security Issues related to 5G Communication