How to Implement Cybersecurity Edge Computing in NS2
To implement the cybersecurity in edge computing in NS2 (Network Simulator 2), we can replicate the sufficient components of an edge computing environment, such as edge nodes, devices, and cloud servers, although incorporating security measures to defend the data and resources at the edge. It compasses processing the data closer to the data source (e.g., IoT devices) that minimizes latency however increases security challenges. We can be executed the security mechanisms like encryption, authentication, and attack detection to defend the communication among cloud servers, edge nodes, and edge devices .For guidance on implementing various types of Cybersecurity Edge Computing in the NS2 tool, please visit ns2project.com..
We presented the detailed stepwise procedure to implement it in NS2:
Steps to Implement Cybersecurity in Edge Computing with NS2:
- Set Up NS2
Make certain that NS2 is installed and appropriately setup. We will be replicated the computing environment, containing the communication among edge devices, edge servers (or nodes), and cloud servers.
- Define the Edge Computing Network Topology
Initially, we describe the edge computing topology that edge devices communicate with edge nodes, and the edge nodes can send the data to cloud servers for further processing.
Example: Define the edge computing network topology
set ns [new Simulator]
# Create nodes representing edge devices, edge servers, and cloud servers
set edge_device1 [$ns node]
set edge_device2 [$ns node]
set edge_server1 [$ns node]
set edge_server2 [$ns node]
set cloud_server [$ns node]
set router [$ns node]
# Set up communication links between edge devices, edge servers, and cloud servers
$ns duplex-link $edge_device1 $edge_server1 1Mb 10ms DropTail
$ns duplex-link $edge_device2 $edge_server2 1Mb 10ms DropTail
$ns duplex-link $edge_server1 $router 10Mb 5ms DropTail
$ns duplex-link $edge_server2 $router 10Mb 5ms DropTail
$ns duplex-link $router $cloud_server 100Mb 2ms DropTail
This topology replicates an edge computing environment in which edge devices are communicate including the edge servers, and the edge servers offload data to a cloud server via a router.
- Simulate Data Traffic between Edge Devices and Edge Servers
Mimic the typical flow of data from edge devices to edge servers for processing. The edge nodes can be sent data to the cloud server as needed.
Example: Simulate data traffic from edge devices to edge servers
# Set up TCP agents for communication between edge devices and edge servers
set tcp1 [new Agent/TCP]
set tcp2 [new Agent/TCP]
set tcp_cloud [new Agent/TCP]
$ns attach-agent $edge_device1 $tcp1
$ns attach-agent $edge_server1 $tcp2
$ns attach-agent $edge_server1 $tcp_cloud
# Connect edge devices to edge servers
$ns connect $tcp1 $tcp2
# Simulate file transfer between edge device and edge server
set ftp1 [new Application/FTP]
$ftp1 attach-agent $tcp1
$ns at 1.0 “$ftp1 start”
$ns at 50.0 “$ftp1 stop”
Above instance replicates a file transfer from an edge device to an edge server that denotes the data processing at the edge before potentially offloading to the cloud.
- Implement Security Mechanisms in Edge Computing
To secure the communication among edge devices and edge nodes, we require to execute numerous security mechanisms such as encryption, authentication, and attack detection.
- Encryption
Encryption make sure that the data being transferred from edge devices to the edge nodes and cloud servers is defended from the eavesdropping or tampering.
# Define encryption and decryption procedures
proc encrypt_message {message key} {
set encrypted_message “”
for {set i 0} {$i < [string length $message]} {incr i} {
set encrypted_message [string append $encrypted_message \
[expr [scan [string index $message $i] %c] ^ $key]]
}
return $encrypted_message
}
proc decrypt_message {encrypted_message key} {
return [encrypt_message $encrypted_message $key] ;# XOR encryption is reversible
}
# Encrypt data before sending it from edge device to edge server
set message “Edge data”
set key 5 ;# Example encryption key
set encrypted_msg [encrypt_message $message $key]
puts “Encrypted message: $encrypted_msg”
- Authentication
Authentication make certain that only authorized edge devices can be interacted including an edge nodes. It can be done using pre-shared keys or certificates.
# Authentication procedure for edge devices
proc authenticate_device {device key} {
set pre_shared_key 12345 ;# Example shared key
if {$key == $pre_shared_key} {
puts “Device $device authenticated”
return 1
} else {
puts “Device $device authentication failed”
return 0
}
}
# Authenticate edge_device1
set device_key 12345
set auth_status [authenticate_device “edge_device1” $device_key]
- Simulate Cybersecurity Attacks
Edge computing is susceptible to numerous security threats, like Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), data exfiltration, or man-in-the-middle attacks. We can be mimicked those threats within NS2 to test the resilience of the security mechanisms.
- Simulate DDoS Attack on Edge Server
In a DDoS attack, a malicious node floods the edge server including the traffic to overwhelm these resources.
# Simulate a DDoS attack by flooding the edge server with traffic
proc simulate_ddos_attack {attacker target} {
global ns
for {set i 0} {$i < 10000} {incr i} {
$ns at [expr 1.0 + $i*0.01] “$attacker send”
}
}
# Set up a malicious node (attacker)
set attacker [new Agent/UDP]
$ns attach-agent $attacker
$ns connect $attacker $edge_server1
# Launch the DDoS attack on edge_server1
$ns at 10.0 “simulate_ddos_attack $attacker $edge_server1”
- Simulate Eavesdropping on Edge Device Communication
We can be replicated a situation in which an attacker intercepts data among the edge devices and edge nodes.
# Simulate an attacker intercepting data between edge_device1 and edge_server1
proc simulate_eavesdropping {attacker target} {
global ns
puts “Attacker intercepting data from $target”
}
# Eavesdrop on communication between edge_device1 and edge_server1
$ns at 20.0 “simulate_eavesdropping $attacker $edge_device1”
- Implement Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
An IDS can execute to observe the traffic within the edge environment for anomalies and identify attacks such as DDoS, man-in-the-middle, or data exfiltration.
Example: Simple IDS to detect abnormal traffic patterns
# Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to monitor traffic for anomalies
proc detect_ddos_attack {packet_count threshold} {
if {$packet_count > $threshold} {
puts “DDoS attack detected!”
} else {
puts “Traffic is normal.”
}
}
# Monitor traffic and detect DDoS attack
set packet_count 1000 ;# Example packet count
detect_ddos_attack $packet_count 800
- Collect and Analyze Traffic Data
We can be used the NS2’s tracing mechanism to gather the network data for analysis. This information can use to estimate the security of the edge network, detect anomalies, and react to security threats.
Enable tracing to collect network traffic data
# Enable trace file to collect traffic data
set tracefile [open edge_trace.tr w]
$ns trace-all $tracefile
It will be created a trace file that logs packet events (e.g., send, receive, drop) together with their timestamps, node details, and other related information.
- Block Malicious Nodes
When an attack is detected, like a DDoS or eavesdropping attempt then we can be blocked the malicious node to avoid further damage.
Example: Blocking a malicious attacker node
# Block malicious node (attacker) after detecting an attack
proc block_attacker {attacker} {
global ns
puts “Blocking attacker node $attacker due to malicious activity.”
$ns detach-agent $attacker
}
# Block attacker after detecting DDoS attack
$ns at 50.0 “block_attacker $attacker”
- Run the Simulation and Analyze Results
Run the simulation to examine how effectively the edge computing environment and the security mechanisms are manage the typical traffic and security threats.
Finalize and run the simulation
proc finish {} {
global ns tracefile
$ns flush-trace
close $tracefile
puts “Simulation finished. Analyze the trace file for results.”
exit 0
}
# Schedule the end of the simulation
$ns at 100.0 “finish”
$ns run
- Analyze Trace Data
When the simulation is done then compute the trace data to estimate the network performance and security effectiveness. We can be processed the trace file with Python or other data analysis tools to extract the insights.
Example: Analyze the trace file with Python
import pandas as pd
# Function to parse NS2 trace file and extract relevant fields
def parse_trace_file(trace_file):
data = []
with open(trace_file, ‘r’) as f:
for line in f:
fields = line.strip().split()
event, time, node, packet_size, flow_id, src, dest = fields[:7]
data.append([time, node, packet_size, src, dest])
return pd.DataFrame(data, columns=[‘time’, ‘node’, ‘packet_size’, ‘src’, ‘dest’])
# Load and parse the trace data
trace_data = parse_trace_file(‘edge_trace.tr’)
print(trace_data.head())
In this explanation we learned and get knowledge concerning the Cybersecurity Edge Computing that implement and evaluate in NS2 environment through the above procedure and examples. We can offer more instances about this topic as required.