Roadmap for Security-as-a-Service CRAN in 5G Networks

Cellular networking has entered the paradigm of next generation networking, Software Defined Mobile Networking (SDMN) and Cloud Radio Access Networks (CRAN). This paradigm shift has compelled to improve future cellular networks by making them more efficient and smart. The improved, future cellular networks could have a profound impact on the commercial and research segments in terms of capital expenditure and operational expenditure by presenting a unified robust technology for data connectivity. In future, 5G cellular networks will be progressed with LTE that will facilitate this technological transformation. Future 5G demands reliance on more flexible and dynamic technologies such as static Radio Access Networks (RAN), otherwise resources will be depleting and will be unable to meet the surging demands including wireless transmission connectivity and providing an efficient network bandwidth. To address this problem, the paper presents a study exploring the amalgamation of Software Defined Network (SDN) and cloud computing achieve Cloud RAN or RAN-as-a-Service (RANaaS). This helps to overcome the problems associated with handling enormous matrix of connecting devices and nodes. This paper explores existing research geared towards the deployment of 5G networks through Remote Radio Heads (RRH) and Virtual Base Stations (VBSs) backed by SDN. Furthermore, this research survey is an effort to unearth the security implications and challenges of CRAN while adopting LTE and SDMN services in CRAN based 5G networks. The security challenges of conventional wireless networks are framed to emphasize on the need to migrate from traditional RAN to CRAN. Subsequently the possible mitigation techniques are also discussed. Furthermore, the role of SDN and its security artifacts are also explored to embed security within the CRAN architecture.