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

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

To place MACsec in the wider telecom-security picture, review AP, HTTPS, MAC, RFID, 1G and 2G — each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

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