Federated Identity Management Using Secure Enclaves for Cross-Domain Access Control in 5G Edge Networks
Ugoaghalam Uche James · International Journal of Scientific Research in Science Engineering and Technology · 2022
The rapid proliferation of 5G edge networks has created a dynamic environment characterized by distributed computing, low-latency communication, and multi-domain resource collaboration. However, ensuring secure and seamless identity management across heterogeneous domains remains a major challenge. This review explores the integration of Federated Identity Management (FIdM) frameworks with secure enclaves to strengthen cross-domain access control and data privacy within 5G edge infrastructures. The paper systematically examines how federated identity protocols such as SAML, OAuth 2.0, and OpenID Connect can be augmented through hardware-based Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) like Intel SGX and ARM TrustZone to mitigate vulnerabilities associated with identity federation and data sharing. Furthermore, it analyzes architectural models that enable mutual trust between service providers, edge nodes, and end-users through enclave-mediated authentication and encrypted credential storage. Emphasis is placed on the role of confidential computing, zero-trust architectures, and blockchain-assisted federation in ensuring integrity, scalability, and accountability. The review also discusses key performance trade-offs between privacy preservation, latency reduction, and interoperability in federated ecosystems. By highlighting current research trends, standardization efforts, and implementation challenges, this paper provides a roadmap for developing resilient and privacy-preserving identity management systems suited for cross-domain operations in 5G and beyond networks.