Secure authentication and access control in ATM networks

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is seen to be a technology that allows flexibility, efficiency mid manageable bandwidth on demand to be achieved in high speed networks. ATM is able to support a variety of applications including voice, video, image and data with different quality of service requirements. This paper addresses the design and implementation of security services it, ATM networks. The paper proposes the placement of security layer between the AAL and the ATM layer providing security services such as confidentiality, integrity and data origin authentication services in the user plane. The paper then presents an authentication scheme and key establishment protocol. This protocol is integrated with the existing ATM signalling protocols as part of the call setup procedures in the control plane. Finally the paper considers the design of access control service for ATM networks and discusses the issues involved iii the provision of access control mechanisms both at connection setup phase mid the user data transfer phase.