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IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security

Optical Layer Security in Fiber-Optic Networks

Mable P. Fok, Zhexing Wang, Yanhua Deng, Paul R. Prucnal

Published Apr 12, 2011• 371 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The physical layer of an optical network is vulnerable to a variety of attacks, including jamming, physical infrastructure attacks, eavesdropping, and interception. As the demand for network capacity grows dramatically, the issue of securing the physical layer of optical network cannot be overlooked. In this survey paper, we discuss the security threats in an optical network as well as present several existing optical techniques to improve the security. In the first part of this paper, we discuss various types of security threats that could appear in the optical layer of an optical network, including jamming, physical infrastructure attacks, eavesdropping, and interception. Intensive research has focused on improving optical network security, in the above specific areas. Real-time processing of the optical signal is essential in order to integrate security functionality at the physical layer while not undermining the true value of optical communications, which is its speed. Optical layer security benefits from the unique properties of optical processing-instantaneous response, broadband operation, electromagnetic immunity, compactness, and low latency. In the second part of this paper, various defenses against the security threats outlined in this paper are discussed, including optical encryption, optical code-division multiple access (CDMA) confidentiality, self-healing survivable optical rings, anti-jamming, and optical steganography.

DOI
10.1109/tifs.2011.2141990

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The physical layer of an optical network is vulnerable to a variety of attacks, including jamming, physical infrastructure attacks, eavesdropping, and interception. As the demand for network capacity grows dramatically, the issue of securing the physical layer of optical network cannot be overlooked. In this survey paper, we discuss the security threats in an optical network as well as present several existing optical techniques to improve the security. In the first part of this paper, we discuss various types of security threats that could appear in the optical layer of an optical network, including jamming, physical infrastructure attacks, eavesdropping, and interception. Intensive research has focused on improving optical network security, in the above specific areas. Real-time processing of the optical signal is essential in order to integrate security functionality at the physical layer while not undermining the true value of optical communications, which is its speed. Optical layer security benefits from the unique properties of optical processing-instantaneous response, broadband operation, electromagnetic immunity, compactness, and low latency. In the second part of this paper, various defenses against the security threats outlined in this paper are discussed, including optical encryption, optical code-division multiple access (CDMA) confidentiality, self-healing survivable optical rings, anti-jamming, and optical steganography.
Using optical processing techniques, we experimentally enhance the physical layer security of optical communication systems. We exploit optical encryption using fiber nonlinearity to achieve real time data encryption. By implementing interleaved waveband switching modulation and variable two-code keying to the system, the security of the data is further enhanced. Based on spread spectrum, we also demonstrate optical steganography such that the stealth signal is transmitted underneath system noise. Optical steganography in WDM and optical CDMA systems is experimentally demonstrated. We also propose and study optical CDMA-based backup channels that improve service availability without wasting the bandwidth in the backup channel. The multi-layered security provided improves the confidentiality and availability of the network.
Optical networks’ physical layer is vulnerable to a variety of attacks, such as jamming, eavesdropping, and, finally, interception. Optical technology may have focused mainly on the more bandwidth race, but the issue of securing the physical layer needs the proper attention. In this paper we survey on recent progress in Optical Frequency Hopping (OFH) techniques used for securing fiber-optic networks and discuss up to date experimental demonstrations. Furthermore, we study on how this technique can effectively improve security for a variety of optical network technologies. Finally, we comment on OFH research challenges and address fields of possible future interest.
Data security at the physical layer of optical networks, or optical layer security, has received considerable research attention due to the rapid growth of optical network capacity [1]. Among various optical layer approaches, optical codedivision multiple access (OCDMA) systems are considered to be promising because of the physical encoding and decoding processes comprising these systems. Generally, physical encoding is an important concept in the field of optical layer security, which implements encoding to the transmitted optical signals, and protects the transmitted data from attack. In this paper, we provide an overview of various OCDMA systems, and discuss the impact of different physical encoding methods on OCDMA systems, in terms of security assurance. Furthermore, we introduce the application of physical encoding to optical steganography and optical transmission with wireless CDMA for security improvement.
This chapter focuses primarily on summarizing results of research on optical code-division multiple access (OCDMA) confidentiality and security. It introduces the various classes of security for the readers who may not be familiar with the field of security and encryption. The chapter discusses how the degree of security in an OCDMA network can be quantified. OCDMA may be advantageous for increasing network availability in the presence of interfering signals, because the signal is spread over many wavelengths. The most commonly used architecture for OCDMA networks is the star network. In the star network, data from all users are collected at some central point and then distributed to all users. An eavesdropper in an OCDMA network may tap signals from various locations within the network. The network designer can design some countermeasures to make the eavesdropper's job a bit more difficult. OCDMA provides security at the physical layer of a communication network.
Fiber Optics Communication is also one of the major branch which is widely used in current communication world. Due to several advantages of fiber optics communication over different conventional wired communication method it is having higher priority. Though fiber optic transmits large amount of data quickly over long distance, it is vulnerable to various security attacks. The fiber optic cable can be easily tapped. Fundamental improvements can be achieved for the entire network by increasing the optical network’s performance in terms of channel capacity, data rate, and processing speed. Furthermore, the security of the optical network has an impact on the security of the entire communication system. Optical network security can be effectively protected by fiber-based methods, including all optical signal processing, optical key distribution, optical steganography, and optical chaos-based communication. Fiber-based devices do not radiate an electromagnetic signature and are immune to electromagnetic interference. To provide end to end secure fiber optic communication, a special encryption algorithm based on Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is employed. The proposed encryption algorithm is simulated and the performance is analyzed. In this paper we are mostly dealing with the basics of fiber optics working principle, priority over other conventional communication system and role of fiber optics communication in computer networking and its vulnerabilities.