Secured IPsec Multicast Architecture Based on Quantum Key Distribution

Multicasting reveals to the delivery of a message or information from one source to multiple recipients simultaneously through a single transmission channel. Securing the transmitted multicast information can be achieved through IPsec multicast architecture. The process of IPsec involves the sender and destinations to agree on IPsec keys. These keys are used for protection transmitted information among communicated peers over IPsec network. IPsec depends on classical algorithm for key generation and distribution. These algorithms proved their conditional security which means intruder can break the algorithm and intercept the communication process. In this paper, a new IPsec multicast architecture is proposed. The proposed architecture is divided into five main processes. The most important process is key generation and distribution. The key generation and distribution through IPsec multicast network is achieved using quantum algorithms. Quantum keys proved their unconditional security according to their physical characteristics. Sender and receivers communicate through two channels which quantum and classical. Encryption and decryption processes depend on agreed quantum keys and classical cryptographic algorithms. IPsec depends on quantum key distribution for creating keys for IPsec security associations. The confidentiality and authentication of proposed architecture is analyzed.