Implications of security mechanisms on performance enhancing proxies
M.A. West · 2003
Wireless networks are interesting from a security perspective because of the risk of eavesdropping and modification (notwithstanding that communication security may be important in any event). They also often have performance characteristics that lead network operators to adapt the IP packet flows to the physical layer - they encourage the use of PEPs. Thus wireless and particularly satellite links provide battlegrounds where security measures and PEPs often collide. We have shown that the deployment of both security and PEPs requires careful, holistic, treatment. Some non-transparent PEPs are only suitable in constrained environments. The co-existence of PEPs with security mechanisms, where both operate at the appropriate layers ensures good performance and strong security. (6 pages)