Security of software defined networks: evolution and challenges

Siham Aouad (Hassan II University)
Issam El Meghrouni (Hassan II University)
Yassine Sabri (ISGA Institut Supérieur d'Ingénierie & des Affaires)
Adil Hilmani (Hassan II University)
Abderrahim Maizate (Hassan II University)

International Journal of Reconfigurable and Embedded Systems (IJRES)
Vol 12, No 3: November 2023

In software-defined networking (SDN), network traffic is managed by software controllers or application programming interfaces (APIs) rather than hardware components. It differs from traditional networks, which use switches and routers to control traffic. Using SDN, you can create and control virtual networks or traditional hardware networks. Furthermore, OpenFlow allows network administrators to control exact network behavior through centralized control of packet forwarding. For these reasons, SDN has advantages over certain security issues, unlike traditional networks. However, most of the existing vulnerabilities and security threats in the traditional network also impact the SDN network. This document presents the attacks targeting the SDN network and the solutions that protect against these attacks. In addition, we introduce a variety of SDN security controls, such as intrusion detection systems (IDS)/intrusion prevention system (IPS), and firewalls. Towards the end, we outline a conclusion and perspectives.