Towards Zero Touch Networks: Cross-Layer Automated Security Solutions
for 6G Wireless Networks
Abstract
The transition from 5G to 6G networks necessitates network automation to
meet the escalating demands for high data rates, ultra-low latency, and
integrated technology. Recently, Zero-Touch Networks (ZTNs), leveraging
AI and ML, have emerged as a promising solution for enhancing automation
in 5G/6G networks but face significant challenges. Specifically, they
are vulnerable to cyber-attacks, and the development of AI/ML-based
cybersecurity mechanisms requires substantial specialized expertise and
encounters model drift issues. Therefore, this paper proposes an
automated security framework targeting Physical Layer Authentication
(PLA) and Cross-Layer Intrusion Detection Systems (CLIDS) to address
security concerns at multiple Internet protocol layers. The proposed
framework employs drift-adaptive online learning techniques and a novel
enhanced Successive Halving (SH)-based Automated ML (AutoML) method to
automatically generate optimized ML models for dynamic networking
environments. Experimental results illustrate that the proposed
framework achieves high performance on the public ORACLE RF
fingerprinting and CICIDS2017 datasets, showcasing its effectiveness in
addressing PLA and CLIDS tasks within dynamic and complex networking
environments. Furthermore, the paper explores open challenges and
research directions in the 5G/6G cybersecurity domain. This framework
represents a significant advancement towards fully autonomous and secure
6G networks, paving the way for future innovations in network automation
and cybersecurity.