Comparison and Analysis of Secure Mobile Architecture (SMA) and Evolved Packet System

In this paper, we analyse and compare two architectures providing an all-IP based connectivity and mobility for mobile devices over heterogeneous access technologies: Evolved Packet System (EPS) as specified by 3GPP and Secure Mobile Architecture (SMA), a standardization effort by The Open Group (TOG). We briefly present each architecture and qualitatively evaluate their advantages and disadvantages in terms of security, mobility, and support for location-based policy enforcement and security zoning. While SMA is capable of providing simultaneous multihoming, cryptographic identity-based packet tracking and ready support for location-based security zoning and policy control, EPS enables legal interception of user traffic and protection of user/host privacy by default.