MACsec (Media Access Control Security (IEEE 802.1AE))

Also known as: IEEE 802.1AE

MACsec (IEEE 802.1AE) provides hop-by-hop confidentiality, integrity and origin authentication at Ethernet layer 2, using GCM-AES-128 or 256. It is widely used to protect fronthaul (eCPRI, O-RAN Open Fronthaul), midhaul and data-centre fabric links, complementing IPsec where line-rate encryption and low latency are required.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkSecurity ControlsEncryption and Cryptography

MACsec in context

The radio access network is the layer where mobile devices attach to the operator's infrastructure. Attacks in this layer include IMSI catching, rogue base stations, downgrade attacks and jamming, and defenses hinge on mutual authentication, integrity-protected signaling and Open RAN supply-chain hygiene.

Security controls in telecom span signaling firewalls (SS7/Diameter/GTP screening at the network edge), transport encryption (IPsec, TLS, PRINS), identity and access on OSS/BSS, and monitoring at both the packet and log level. Controls are audited against GSMA FS.11/FS.19/FS.20/FS.36 and, in Europe, NIS2 sectoral rules.

To place MACsec in the wider telecom-security picture, review HTTPS, MAC, Satellite Backhaul, AP, Fronthaul and MPLS.

Related terms

Related topic hubs

More from the TelcoSec Glossary

Browse the full TelcoSec Glossary, the Ultimate Guide to Mobile Network Security, or the P1 Arsenal of telecom-security tools.