Network Security

Fraunhofer Research Institution for Applied and Integrated Security

Network Security
Fraunhofer SIT
© Fraunhofer AISEC / Volker Steger

Internet technologies and protocols based on the Internet Protocol (IP) are being used in an ever-growing range of applications. Because of this, the requirements of IP-based networks are changing for many applications, and in many emerging application areas, there is a growing demand for tamper- and eavesdropping-resistance as well as reliability. Among the major challenges for the Future Internet are finding information and dealing with variations in network traffic load, as offered services must be fast and reliable, regardless of whether five or 500,000 users are accessing them.

Additionally, networks are becoming increasingly heterogeneous, resulting in ever more complex security problems. In many areas, networks which are not readily compatible with one another are being merged and must, in spite of this, continue to use or migrate from existing infrastructures. Here, enterprises often see a need to evaluate the security risks coming with IPv6, being unsure about their IPv6 readiness.

Competences and offerings

Fraunhofer AISEC develops solutions for IP-based communication systems in existing and emerging application domains. The focus is on enabling reliable, easy maintainable, and secure communication systems. This includes migration from IPv4 to IPv6 systems. With several years of experiences in security analysis and evaluation of large scale infrastructures, critical information infrastructure protection, and Future Internet communication, we posses also competences needed to cover security in SmartGrid. Our labs are used to develop and demonstrate practical experiences of advanced communications technologies in cloud networking and mobility management as contributions to Future Internet.

Overview of competences and offerings

  • Security focused solutions in communication technologies enabling Future Internet
  • Security evaluation of large scale existing infrastructures
  • Critical information infrastructure protection
  • IT security and privacy in ICT infrastructures connecting Smart Metering, Smart Grid, eMobility and Smart Energy systems
  • Migration strategies to IPv6, deployment dependencies and security risks during migration
  • Combining preventive security measure with pro-active means for deriving more timely, situational information

Main Publications (selection)

Projects (selection)