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Opto-Electronics and Communications Conference (OECC)

Physical layer network security based on optical processing using compact passive devices

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

Published Jul 1, 2009• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We propose the use of optical processing for enhancing network security. Optical steganography, anti-jamming, and optical encryption is experimentally demonstrated. Service availability is also improved during physical infrastructure attacks using optical CDMA for backup channels.
DOI
10.1109/oecc.2009.5222674

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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.
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.
We propose and demonstrate the use of real-time optical signal processing, implemented with integrated and packaged off-the-shelf commercial technology, to enhance the security of data networks. Optical steganography, based on spread spectrum, is used to inhibit the observation of data traffic and the analysis of traffic patterns. Using optical CDMA to modulate the data, service interruption is prevented in presence of infrastructure attacks. Unlike conventional wavelength and time multiplexing approaches, the soft blocking capability of optical CDMA provides protection paths without permanently allocating bandwidth. The large size of the optical CDMA code set also reduces the probability that the secure signal can be intercepted by an eavesdropper. Finally, high-speed all-optical data encryption is demonstrated, which prevents side-channel attacks and enables real-time encryption with no delay.
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.
An enhancement of data networks security using a hybrid WDM and SAC/Optical CDMA System is proposed. Secure transmission for dedicated users is achieved by overlaying a covert channel onto a multichannel WDM network. The covert channel is spectrally encoded using spectral amplitude coding (SAC) with unipolar Modified Double Weight (MDW) as the signature address code. OCDMA improves service availability in the presence of physical infrastructure attacks. With the use of WDM channels, the difficulty for an eavesdropper to intercept and decode the secure signal is increased. A simulation is presented as a demonstration of the concept.