IP multicast security: issues and directions

Security represents one of the major current obstacles to the wider deployment of IP multicast. The present work identifies and discusses various concepts and issues underlying multicast security. A classification of the current issues is provided, covering some core problems, infrastructure problems, and certain complex applications that might be built atop secure IP multicast. Three broad core problems are defined, namely fast and efficient source authentication for high data-rate applications, secure and scalable group key management techniques and the need for methods to express and implement policies specific to multicast security. The infrastructure problem areas cover the issues related to the security of multicast routing protocols and reliable multicast protocols. The topic of complex application covers more advanced issues, typically relating to secure group communication at (or above) the session layer which may be built using an eventual secure multicast infrastructure. A brief summary of the relevant developments, including those in the IETF, is provided.