Method And Apparatus Securing Traffic Over MPLS Networks

Multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) data is typically sent non-encrypted over MPLS-based networks. If encryption is applied to MPLS data frames and MPLS labels are encrypted, each node receiving any of the MPLS data frame would have to perform decryption in order to direct the data frames to a next node, therefore resulting in extra processing and data latency. According to an example embodiment, encryption and decryption mechanisms for MPLS data include encrypting/decrypting payload data while keeping the MPLS labels in the clear (i.e., unencrypted). A MPLS encryption label is also employed within the MPLS label stack to indicate that encryption is applied. The MPLS encryption label is inserted in the MPLS label stack when encrypting the payload and is removed when decrypting the payload.