The lowdown on lower layer security protocols

Rapid advances in communication technology have accentuated the need for security in distributed processing systems. The broad interconnectivity provided by these technologies amplify both the capabilities of a computer network and the security risks. New developments in communication protocols promise to alleviate security problems by the application of standard security mechanisms. The author examines significant work in the recent development of lower layer security protocols. Protocols for link, network, and transport layer security are examined and the architectural tradeoffs inherent in these mechanisms are contrasted