Title :
A flexible cryptographic infrastructure for high-security SDR-based systems
Author :
Hillmann, Peter ; Stelte, Bjorn
Author_Institution :
Fac. of Comput. Sci., Univ. der Bundeswehr Munchen, Neubiberg, Germany
Abstract :
Military software defined radio (SDR) systems are a major factor in future network-centric operations due to their flexibility and support for more capable radio communications systems. The inherent nature of software-based systems requires a more complex auxiliary infrastructure and multiple independent levels of security compared with typical systems: Secure booting of the SDR device, cryptographically signed software, real time operating platform software as well as radio applications. This technology raises new challenges with respect to the management. The largest impact on SDR deployments is due to the auxiliary cryptographic infrastructure for the security of the software life cycle and the cyclic update of the keys. Compared to conventional radio devices, the SDR system with the cryptographic infrastructure described in this paper reaches a higher security level and is more flexible. The advantage is the possibility to deploy trunked radio system and further waveforms, such as coalition wideband, which will be standardized in the future. Also it is possible to update cryptographic mechanisms. In this work, we analyze the requirements for a high secure SDR deployment and model the life cycle of the components of a deployed SDR node based on the Joint Program Executive Office (JPEO) Software Communication Architecture (SCA).
Keywords :
cryptography; military communication; military computing; software radio; telecommunication security; JPEO SCA; Joint Program Executive Office; SDR device; Software Communication Architecture; coalition wideband; component life cycle; cryptographic mechanisms; cryptographically signed software; flexible cryptographic infrastructure; high secure SDR deployment; high-security SDR-based systems; key cyclic update; military SDR system; military software defined radio; network-centric operation; radio applications; radio communications; radio device; real time operating platform software; secure booting; security level; software life cycle security; software-based systems; trunked radio system; Authentication; Containers; Encryption; Materials; Software; SDR; key distribution; network management; security infrastructure; software defined radio;
Conference_Titel :
Military Communications and Information Systems Conference (MilCIS), 2013
Conference_Location :
Canberra, ACT
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4799-0281-1
DOI :
10.1109/MilCIS.2013.6694489