Networks and Systems Security Lab

5G/6G System Design and Security

As mobile networks transition into their fifth and sixth generations, they are becoming increasingly software-driven, virtualized, and cloud-native. These architectural shifts open the door to unprecedented levels of flexibility, scalability, and programmability—but they also introduce new design complexities and security risks. Future networks must meet demanding performance guarantees across diverse verticals, from industrial automation and immersive media to autonomous systems, all while maintaining resilience and trustworthiness.

Our research in this domain focuses on the design, deployment, and security of virtualized and disaggregated 5G/6G systems. We study how network slicing, containerized core functions, and cloud-hosted deployments shape the performance and scalability of next-generation networks. By building realistic testbeds and measurement frameworks, we evaluate how microservice-based architectures behave under real-world workloads, and how architectural decisions impact latency, resource efficiency, and user experience.

On the security front, our work addresses the unique threat models introduced by open and programmable interfaces, such as those in OpenRAN and xApp ecosystems. We design scalable mechanisms for authentication, authorization, and trust management within these dynamic environments—ensuring that flexibility does not come at the cost of increased vulnerability.

By bridging systems research with applied security, our group contributes to both fundamental insights and deployable solutions that inform how mobile operators, equipment vendors, and cloud providers build the networks of the future. Our work shapes the broader research community's understanding of the trade-offs and challenges in virtualized mobile systems, and supports the development of secure, efficient, and adaptive 5G/6G infrastructures—both in academia and industry.

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