AUTOMATED AUTHENTICATION OF A NEW NETWORK ELEMENT

The technology presented herein enables a new network element to be authenticated to other network elements automatically. In a particular embodiment, a method provides determining a current time relative to a first time. The first time is known to the new network element and a provisioning network element. The method further provides generating first beacon data using seed data stored on the new network element and the current time and generating keying data using the first beacon data and identification information associated with the new network element. The method also provides identifying a first one-time pad (OTP) from the keying data and using the first OTP to encrypt an authentication request for transfer from the new network element to the provisioning network element.