Toward a new perspective of Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol with Active networks

Abstract: VoIP is potentially a functional replacement for regular phones and can, at least hypothetically, be used in any location where more traditional phones have been used in the past. Since it is based on the Internet Protocol- open to public access, potential attacks may be conducted on VoIP communications and security becomes a must. Integrating security protocols (IPsec) and emerging new standard Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP) requires changes in the hardware and software of the existing IP telephony infrastructure. Active networks have been recently highlighted as a key enabling technology to rapidly create, deploy and manage new network services in response to user demands. By providing a programmable interface in network nodes, they expose the resources and provide mechanisms for constructing or refining new services from those elements. This paper examines the existing security services to secure RTP packets conveying voice information and proposes two models for the deployment of SRTP security mechanisms through open programmable interfaces and active networks