Solutions for securing broadband satellite communication

Abstract

Deploying appropriate security functionality in satellite networks is often necessary in order to allow their usage for certain sensitive scenarios. However, deploying security over satellite networks has specific issues caused either by the characteristic of the satellite link such as the long end-to-end delay and higher bit error rates, or by some other protocols typically and frequently used in satellite networks, such as Performance Enhancing Proxies (PEPs) or IP Multicast to name a few of them. This paper first outlines and analyses these security issues with broadband satellite communication, such as issues with PEPs and IPsec anti-replay protection. It then investigates and outlines solutions to this kind of issues, which are deployable today. Finally it points to some research topic in this area, which needs future work before becoming deployable.