Zero Trust Chain (ZTC): Security Solutions for 5G Networks with an O-RAN-Centric and Device-Centric Approach
Primary Investigator:
David Love
Yongkyu Jang. Dr. David Love, Dr. Taejoon Kim, Dr. Christopher Brinton, Dr. Sonia Fahmy, Dr. Remi Chou, Dr. Vuk Marojevic, Dr. Syed Rafiul Hussain, Dr. Hyuck Kwon, Dr. Sang W. Kim
Abstract
Our team, named Zero Trust X (ZTX), proposes a software solution that enables military squads to securely share situational awareness in their operations through high-performance, but often untrusted, 5G networks. It will allow DoD operators to discover malicious entities in near-real-time and provide communication mechanisms to avoid adversary’s control over DoD traffic. Specifically, through a minimum amount of cooperation with the network operator, part of our solution leverages O-RAN for new threat monitoring and mitigation solutions specifically designed for 5G networks. We complement this O-RAN-centric approach with a device-centric approach to ensure that DoD devices also implement their own layer of security and do not solely rely on the security protocols of the network provider that could possibly be compromised by adversaries. Such a combination will substantially enhance the security of the whole system. Importantly, our device-centric solutions do not require cooperation from the network providers, nor any changes to the existing 5G standards.