Leveraging LTE security with SDN and NFV

In this paper, we study the current and emerging security mechanisms to protect the LTE (Long Term Evolution) architecture. We also highlight the limitations of legacy LTE security mechanisms. SDN (Software Defined Networking) and NFV (Network Function Virtualization) are positioned as innovative concepts to improve overall LTE security posture. This paper proposes enhancements to the legacy security mechanisms and introduces new security applications based on SDN and NFV technologies. The performance of proposed SDN based LTE security architecture is analyzed with simulations.