How to Implement Zero Trust Security in NS2

To implement Zero Trust Security in NS2 has needs to implement strict security controls that undertake no device or user should be trusted by default, even if they are within the internal network. The Zero Trust Security model performs on the principles of least privilege access, continuous verification, and segmentation of network resources. Executing this design in NS2 needs to mimic identity verification, access control policies, network segmentation, and continuous monitoring. The given below are the procedures to implement the Zero Trust Security in ns2:

Key Aspects of Zero Trust Security:

  1. Identity Verification: Validating the identity of users and devices before granting access.
  2. Least Privilege Access: Permitting users or devices access only to the resources they need.
  3. Continuous Monitoring: Uninterruptedly monitoring network traffic to identify abnormal activities.
  4. Micro-Segmentation: Dividing the network into smaller segments to limit lateral movement in case of a breach.
  5. Access Control Policies: implementing strict access control lists (ACLs) and policies for users and devices.

Steps to Implement Zero Trust Security in NS2:

  1. Define Network Topology:

Initiate by describing a network topology in which clients (representing users or devices) communicate with servers and other network resources. The topology can be segmented into smaller zones to implement the Zero Trust model, in which each segment denotes a trust boundary.

Example Tcl script for network topology:

set ns [new Simulator]

# Define nodes: clients, servers, and routers

set client1 [$ns node]

set client2 [$ns node]

set server1 [$ns node]  ;# Database server

set server2 [$ns node]  ;# Web server

set router [$ns node]

# Create links between clients and the servers through a router

$ns duplex-link $client1 $router 10Mb 10ms DropTail

$ns duplex-link $client2 $router 10Mb 10ms DropTail

$ns duplex-link $router $server1 10Mb 10ms DropTail

$ns duplex-link $router $server2 10Mb 10ms DropTail

In this sample, the client1 and client2 denotes the users or devices get into server1 (database server) and server2 (web server) over a router. Zero Trust policies will be implemented to control access between nodes.

  1. Simulate Network Traffic:

Mimic traffic among clients and the servers using TCP or UDP, denoted numerous kinds of data exchanges like web requests, database queries, and file transfers.

Example of simulating traffic between clients and the servers:

# Create TCP agent for client1 to communicate with server1

set tcp1 [new Agent/TCP]

set sink1 [new Agent/TCPSink]

$ns attach-agent $client1 $tcp1

$ns attach-agent $server1 $sink1

$ns connect $tcp1 $sink1

# Create TCP agent for client2 to communicate with server2

set tcp2 [new Agent/TCP]

set sink2 [new Agent/TCPSink]

$ns attach-agent $client2 $tcp2

$ns attach-agent $server2 $sink2

$ns connect $tcp2 $sink2

# Simulate application traffic

set app1 [new Application/Traffic/CBR]

$app1 attach-agent $tcp1

$app1 set packetSize_ 512

$app1 set rate_ 1Mb

$ns at 1.0 “$app1 start”

set app2 [new Application/Traffic/CBR]

$app2 attach-agent $tcp2

$app2 set packetSize_ 512

$app2 set rate_ 1Mb

$ns at 1.5 “$app2 start”

  1. Implement Zero Trust Security Mechanisms:

(a) Identity Verification:

Mimic identity verification by authenticating clients before they can access any server. Authentication can contains to validate credentials like IP addresses or pre-shared keys.

Example of simulating identity verification:

# Simulate identity verification for client1 before accessing server1

if {$client1_authenticated == true} {

puts “Client1 authenticated, access to server1 granted”

} else {

puts “Client1 authentication failed, access denied”

set filter [new Agent/Null]

$ns attach-agent $server1 $filter

$ns connect $client1 $filter

}

# Simulate identity verification for client2

if {$client2_authenticated == true} {

puts “Client2 authenticated, access to server2 granted”

} else {

puts “Client2 authentication failed, access denied”

set filter [new Agent/Null]

$ns attach-agent $server2 $filter

$ns connect $client2 $filter

}

(b) Least Privilege Access:

Apply least privilege access by permitting clients to access only particular services according to their identity. For sample, client1 can access the database server, though client2 can only access the web server.

Example of enforcing least privilege access:

# Allow client1 to access only server1 (database server)

if {[node] != $client1} {

set filter [new Agent/Null]

$ns attach-agent $router $filter

$ns connect $client2 $filter  ;# Block client2 from accessing server1

}

# Allow client2 to access only server2 (web server)

if {[node] != $client2} {

set filter [new Agent/Null]

$ns attach-agent $router $filter

$ns connect $client1 $filter  ;# Block client1 from accessing server2

}

(c) Micro-Segmentation:

Micro-segment the network by generating the trust boundary among the different network segment, limiting interaction among segment unless clearly allowed.

Example of implementing micro-segmentation:

# Segregate access to server1 and server2 using micro-segmentation

if {[node] != $client1 && [node] != $client2} {

set filter [new Agent/Null]

$ns attach-agent $router $filter

$ns connect $node $filter  ;# Restrict traffic between clients and non-assigned servers

}

(d) Continuous Monitoring:

Execute continuous monitoring of network traffic to identify abnormal activities, like unauthorized access attempts, excessive traffic, or variations in normal behaviour.

Example of simulating continuous monitoring:

# Monitor traffic and detect suspicious activities

set tracefile [open zero_trust_log.tr w]

$ns trace-all $tracefile

# Detect if client1 attempts to access server2 (unauthorized access)

if {[node] == $client1 && [server] == $server2} {

puts “Unauthorized access attempt detected: client1 trying to access server2”

}

(e) Access Control Lists (ACLs):

Use ACLs to implement strict access control policies that regulate that clients can interact with which servers based on their role and identity.

Example of simulating ACLs:

# Define ACL to allow only client1 to access server1

if {[node] != $client1} {

set filter [new Agent/Null]

$ns attach-agent $server1 $filter

$ns connect $node $filter

}

# Define ACL to allow only client2 to access server2

if {[node] != $client2} {

set filter [new Agent/Null]

$ns attach-agent $server2 $filter

$ns connect $node $filter

}

  1. Simulate Network Security Threats:

To Assess the Zero Trust model, to mimic the common threats such as:

  • Unauthorized Access: A client tries to access a resource that they are not authorized to.
  • Lateral Movement: A compromised client tries to move laterally within the network to access other servers.
  • DoS Attack: An attacker tries to overwhelm a server or router with traffic.

Example of simulating unauthorized access:

# Simulate unauthorized access attempt by client1 trying to reach server2

if {$client1_attempt_to_access_server2 == true} {

puts “Unauthorized access detected, blocking client1”

set filter [new Agent/Null]

$ns attach-agent $server2 $filter

$ns connect $client1 $filter

}

  1. Enable Traffic Monitoring and Logging:

To allow NS2 trace files to capture network events like packet transmissions, receptions, and access attempts. These logs can help to identify security incidents and make sure that access control policies are working appropriately.

Example of enabling trace logging:

set tracefile [open zero_trust_security.tr w]

$ns trace-all $tracefile

  1. Analyse Security Metrics:

After executing the simulation, measure key security parameters like:

  • Access Denials: How many access attempts were denied based on the Zero Trust policies.
  • Unauthorized Access Attempts: To identify unauthorized access attempts by clients to non-permitted resources.
  • Traffic Filtering: How much traffic was filtered or blocked based on the executed access control policies.
  • Lateral Movement: Identify any attempt by compromised clients to move laterally within the network.

Example Python script to measure on unauthorized access in the trace file:

with open(“zero_trust_security.tr”, “r”) as tracefile:

for line in tracefile:

if “unauthorized” in line:  # Log unauthorized access attempts

print(“Unauthorized access detected!”)

  1. Simulate Incident Response:

Mimic how the network responds to identified security incidents, like blocking traffic from a compromised client or seperating a server.

Example of blocking a client after detecting unauthorized access:

# Block client1 after detecting an unauthorized access attempt

if {$client1_attempt_to_access_server2 == true} {

puts “Unauthorized access detected, blocking client1”

set filter [new Agent/Null]

$ns attach-agent $router $filter

$ns connect $client1 $filter

}

  1. Visualize Zero Trust Security Using NAM:

Use NAM (Network Animator) to envision the network’s characteristics and security events, like access denials, lateral movement attempts, and normal traffic flows.

Example of enabling NAM visualization:

$ns namtrace-all [open zero_trust_security.nam w]

  1. Generate Reports and Analyse Zero Trust Effectiveness:

After the simulation, create a report detailing:

  • Access Denials: Record the number of access denials according to Zero Trust policies.
  • Unauthorized Access Attempts: Log any unauthorized access attempts and the response to those attempts.
  • Effectiveness of Micro-Segmentation: measure on whether network segmentation mitigates lateral movement.
  • Recommendations for Improvement: Recommend the possible enhancements for the Zero Trust model according to the simulation outcomes.

In the above following procedures is often support to execute the Zero Trust Security in ns2. We also provide additional information regarding Zero Trust Security performance in other simulation scenarios. For receiving leading experts suggestions you can approach ns2project.com we offer  best research ideas tailored to your needs.