Architectural considerations for LAN security protocols

Abstract

This paper examines the requirements and tradeoffs of cryptographic security for local area networks (LANs). Cryptographic security mechanisms must be carried in standard protocol formats for interoperable security. No standard security protocols are currently defined specifically for LANs. The constraints of existing LAN communication protocols limit the viable alternatives for new security protocols. The considerations and tradeoffs for a security protocol in the lower layers of the Organization of International Standardization's (ISO) Open System Interconnection (OSI) reference model are examined in detail for LAN environments.