Software-defined networking (SDN) is a network architecture approach that allows programmatic management of network resources using software applications. This technology helps operators manage the network configuration and traffic engineering from the underlying network technology.

Technology is getting more advanced from time to time, the traditional network architecture model does not support the demands of modern business IT. Organizations seeking new solutions to support dynamic computing environments. Software Defined Networking offers characteristics such as Decoupled Architecture Planes, Network Operability, and Openness & Interoperability to address concerns that organizations have.

This project is to investigate whether the technology SDN meets security considerations. Security is the key point for organizations.

Some previous researches were focused on four directions such as Automated Derivation of Secure SDN Configurations, Secure Operations in SDN Environments, SDN-Based Security, and Secure Architectural patterns.

This project will exam the formal analysis tool such as policy checkers from the Automated Derivation of Secure SDN Configurations direction. It will also analysis how OpenFlow supports SDN security from the SDN-Based Security direction.

Approach

- Research and study the concepts about policy checkers

- Do some tests and analysis the results from policy checkers

- Research and study the concepts about OpenFlow

- Do some tests and analysis the results from OpenFlow

- Research and study the concepts from other directions if necessary

Mar 15

Research concepts and do tests about policy checkers

Mar 22

Research concepts and do tests about OpenFlow

Mar 29

Review results from tests and do other analysis if needed

Apr 1

Formal report

1. M. Raza, J. Hertvik, ‘What is Software Defined Networking? SDN Explained’, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.bmc.com/blogs/software-defined-networking/. [Accessed: 7- Feb- 2021].

2. Ciena, ‘What is SDN’, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.ciena.com/insights/what-is/What-Is-SDN.html. [Accessed: 7- Feb- 2021].

3. D. Huang, A. Chowdhary, S. Pisharody, ‘Software-Defined Networking and Security’, 2018. [Online]. Available:

https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.1201/9781351210768. [Accessed: 7- Feb- 2021].

4. M. C. Dacier, H. König, R. Cwalinski, F. Kargl and S. Dietrich, "Security Challenges and Opportunities of Software-Defined Networking," in IEEE Security & Privacy, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 96-100, March-April 2017, doi: 10.1109/MSP.2017.46.

The underline parts in the project update are the updated parts.