Master Thesis – IPsec usability (30P)
Description
The need for securing communications from prying eyes and ears is increasingly on everyone’s agenda. As
communication networks evolve and get larger and more advanced, security mechanisms and solutions need to evolve as well.
IPsec is an important piece in the toolbox used for securing data backhaul in 4G LTE networks. However, challenges arise when IPsec equipment is deployed in new ways to meet the demands of these networks. The abstractions and interfaces provided for management are by some perceived as difficult to understand and use. This in turn may make deployment unnecessarily expensive or results in less secure setups than what is actually desirable.
The task of this thesis work is to analyze the usability in a set of commonly used commercial IPsec products in order to provide an understanding of what improvements could be made to better address identified needs.
The project shall review known principles for usability and the scientific study of usability. Drawing on the theoretical base the project shall make an evaluation of the usability in a set of selected IPsec products with respect to the needs that can be identified for a 4G LTE network deployment. This evaluation can either be a systematic theoretical analysis of features and properties or can be carried out as a usability experiment.
This project is suitable for two students working together.
Qualifications
This project aims at Master of Science (civilingenjör) students in electrical engineering, computer science, computer engineering or equivalent academic program. Typically skills required:
- Good communications skills in English - A basic course in security
- A basic course in usability
Contact persons:
Line manager contact: Helena Westlinder helena.westlinder@ericsson.com (Ericsson AB, Linköping) +46 10 711 49 62 Thesis contacts: Mats Gustafsson mats.c.gustafsson@ericsson.com (Ericsson AB, Linköping) +46 10 71 14715
