802.1AE plan aims to safeguard LANs

摘要

Because networks are vulnerable to configuration errors, miswiring and malicious attacks that can disrupt enterprise and service provider operations, it is essential for companies to apply multiple security mechanisms to protect their data, applications and network functions. The forthcoming IEEE 802.1AE standard helps prevent disruptions to Ethernet networks by protecting LAN devices from unauthorized communication. The IEEE 802.1 Security Task Group is developing a suite of protocols to secure LANs. The principal one is IEEE 802.1AE Media Access Control Security (MACSec), which integrates security protection into wired Ethernet to secure LANs from attacks such as passive wiretapping, masquerading, man-in-the-middle and some denial-of-ser-vice attacks. MACSec is in the final stage of standardization and is expected to be published in early 2006.