Securing SDN Communication through Quantum Key Distribution

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is an emerging networking paradigm that decouples the control and data plane in order to enable programmable and flexible networks, optimizing its applications and advancing computer systems. It does so through its architecture, a key part of which is a centralized network management through open interfaces that revolutionizes the way in which networks are designed and makes them more agile and versatile to the evolving needs of modern and future applications services. This also means, however, that there is now a centralized point of attack that is a major vulnerability, threatening the security of the entire network. With such an advanced network paradigm, it requires a security system that will mitigate these risks and warrant long-term security. In attempts to allow secure communications within the network, this research proposes the implementation of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), leveraging quantum mechanics to secure the network against any computational advancements in the future. QKD is a recent cryptographic system that includes a traditional-computational channel and a physical-quantum channel to generate and distribute keys between parties. It uses the principles of quantum mechanics including entanglement and superposition to ensure that the physical layer cannot be compromised computationally. QKD provides confidentiality and privacy of information and communication. Moreover, it is resistant to technological advancements. The implications of QKD significantly enhance SDN security through its protection against attacks, efficient key distribution, reliable network orchestration, and data integrity, creating an architecture that establishes stable communication channels that are resistant to cyber threats.

I. Introduction

Throughout history, the reliance on secure communications and data has been on classical cryptography, which depends on mathematical computations and algorithms to produce keys for encryption and decryption. With the advent of quantum computers, traditional security measures have become more vulnerable to attacks. Unlike classical cryptography, quantum cryptography leverages the principles of uncertainty and entanglement to generate unique keys. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), an application of quantum cryptography, enables the secure exchange of keys between parties, with the ability to detect eavesdroppers that would disrupt and destroy the quantum states. The addition of this physical layer to the classical layer provides a robust defense system that mitigates threats that computational advances such as quantum computers pose to classical cryptography.