Blockchain-Enabled Secure Network Slicing Architecture for Multi-Tenant 6G Edge Computing Environments

Abstract

The new 6G multi-tenant edge networks pose a tricky situation when it comes to the securing process of individual slices of the network that are used to host URLLC, mMTC, and eMBB types of services. In this paper, we propose a blockchain-based network slicing architecture which is a decentralized, auditable, and secure network resource management (NRM) platform across heterogeneous tenants. The designed architecture combines the Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and the Hyperledger Fabric blockchain to provide support of dynamic slice lifecycle, such as creation, scaling, and termination. In order to deal with performance bottlenecks and security vulnerability, the system uses a lightweight consensus algorithm and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), guaranteeing the low-latency transactions and strong tenant isolation. Smart contracts manage the process of slice provisioning, they manage Service-Level Agreements (SLAs), and the audit is naked. Demonstrations carried out with the assistance of Mininet, ONOS controller, and Hyperledger Composer helps in the verification of architecture feasibility and have shown that it is capable of growing to match scales.Experiments show that the architecture can reduce slice provisioning time by 38 per cent and improve resistance to slice hijacking and authorised access as opposed to dominant slicing frameworks. Moreover, the architecture can enable secure inter-slice communication, verifiable access control with small computational costs. The developed architecture can provide a promising solution towards future infrastructures in multi-tenant networks.