The Pivotal Role of Software Defined Networks to Safeguard Against Cyber Attacks: a Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Software defined networks (SDNs) offer novel approaches to managing networks by separating the control plane from the data plane to enable programmable control over network resources effectively and dynamically. This framework supports monitoring of traffic flow and detection of threats while also enabling easy adaptation of network configurations, which is critical in safeguarding against cyber threats. However, this separation also brings forth security risks that cyber attackers may exploit. In this examination, the basic concepts of SDN are explained, pointing out their benefits compared to conventional networks and exploring the security issues that are part of SDN architectures. Different types of threats that focus on SDN layers are categorized and how they impact network security while suggesting different ways to address them. Furthermore, the review highlights issues and suggests potential research paths to enhance SDN security measures and ensure their effectiveness against ever-changing cyber dangers.