Towards a Security Reference Architecture for NFV.

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Network Security
• Software Engineering

Background:

• Network Function Virtualization (NFV) transforms traditional hardware networks into flexible, scalable software-based systems.
• While NFV offers significant advantages, it also expands the network's attack surface, necessitating robust security measures.
• Existing ETSI standards for NFV security are extensive and may not be directly applicable to software architects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a threat analysis of NFV use cases to identify potential attack vectors.
• To develop a Security Reference Architecture (SRA) for NFV environments.
• To provide a clear roadmap for software architects to implement secure NFV architectures.

Main Methods:

• Threat analysis of specific NFV use cases.
• Modeling threats as misuse cases to detail attacker methodologies.
• Identifying security patterns as countermeasures.
• Developing a detailed and precise Security Reference Architecture (SRA).

Main Results:

• Enumeration of threats specific to NFV use cases.
• Definition of countermeasures through security patterns.
• Creation of a Security Reference Architecture (SRA) for NFV.
• Establishment of a precise architectural model for secure NFV.

Conclusions:

• Architectural models are fundamental for building secure networks, enabling a "secure by design" approach.
• The proposed SRA provides a practical roadmap for implementing secure NFV architectures.
• A holistic approach to security, supported by detailed architectural models, is crucial for modern networks.