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Achieve Data Security With FS Layer 1 Optical Encryption Solution

LarryUpdated at Dec 27th 20241 min read

As enterprises and government organizations continue digital transformation, data security has become one of the foremost concerns. In a world where cyber attacks and hackers pose risks to any organization, data encryption has never been more attractive.
Previously, much of the focus on protecting data was on securing data within enterprise networks or data centers. Despite extensive measures involving firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems, cybercriminals are increasingly shifting their focus to intercepting data in transit across the network. The optical encryption, known as layer 1 encryption, has become a common practice in data networks.
Why Need Layer 1 Encryption for Data Security?
Layer 1 encryption operates at the physical layer (Layer 1). It secures data at the optical transport level before it is converted into higher-layer formats such as IP packets or Ethernet frames. This means that data encryption is applied to the entire optical signal as it travels through fiber, ensuring complete protection of all transmitted data. Unlike encryption methods that focus on specific layers, layer 1 encryption covers all the data physically transmitted through optical fibers, offering end-to-end data security at all times.
Layer 1 encryption works transparently, meaning it can securely encrypt various types of data, including voice, video, and data, as well as protocols like Ethernet, Fibre Channel, SDI, and CPRI. It does not require any modifications to application-layer protocols or network configurations, ensuring a smooth integration into existing systems without disruption.
As the encryption occurs directly at the transport layer, it introduces minimal overhead, ensuring there is no significant impact on network performance. This allows government and enterprise networks to maintain high-speed operations while ensuring secure data transmission, without compromising on performance or efficiency.
Figure 1: Encryption in the Network
FS Optical Encryption Solution Overview
FS's Optical Encryption Solution utilizes the AES-256 encryption, providing encryption for high-speed data transmissions. This solution supports 100M to 100G access and aggregation, making it ideal for high-bandwidth networks that require data security. It is specifically designed to encrypt OTN signals, ensuring that all data transmitted over optical fibers is fully protected from unauthorized access or interception.
Figure 2: FS Optical Encryption Solution
Key Features of FS Optical Encryption Solution
Layer 1 Optical Encryption for High-Level Security
FS's Optical Encryption Solution performs AES-256 encryption on Layer-1 of the client signal. AES-256 is primarily used to secure sensitive data — such as financial records, personal data, or intellectual property — by transforming plaintext into an unreadable format (ciphertext), ensuring it remains confidential and cannot be accessed by unauthorized users. It supports dynamic key management and "Burn After Reading" to ensure that keys are never cached or susceptible to unauthorized access. The optical encryption also utilizes GMAC (Galois Message Authentication Code) and Diffie-Hellman key exchange. The GMAC ensures message integrity and authentication. Diffie-Hellman key exchange enables two parties to securely share a secret key over a public communication channel without transmitting the key itself, making it resistant to eavesdropping.
For governments and enterprises that require exceptional levels of data protection, ASE-256 encryption is in high demand, as it meets or exceeds the security thresholds of security standards. Meanwhile, the ASE-256 encryption offers efficient encryption and decryption performance to handle large amounts of data, ensuring business continuity and efficient operation.
With exceptional data security, Layer 1 optical encryption also offers complete transparency for service data, including Ethernet, Fiber Channel, Voice, Vidio, etc., providing full end-to-end data encryption. It seamlessly integrates into the existing network and does not require any changes to existing Layer-2 and Layer-3 switches and routers in the network.
Figure 3: Layer 1 Optical Encryption
Multi-Service Access and Aggregation with OTN Encryption
For government agencies and certain industries, GE/FE and SDH networks are preferred due to their predictable and fixed service needs. The low-rate network helps reduce both initial investment and ongoing operational costs, avoiding unnecessary bandwidth waste. However, optical encryption works at 10G or higher rates. A set of equipment is needed to access low-rate services and convert them into high-rate signals for encryption.
The MS8100 Series multi-service platform enables seamless integration of GE, FE, STM-1/4/16 signals, which are mapped to ODUk (OTN) and transported over 10G line interfaces. The signals are then aggregated, encrypted, and multiplexed into 100G/200G high-speed transmission via 18M2C2 muxponder of D710 Series, sharing high-speed line interfaces and ensuring secure and efficient data transport, which fully meets the application needs.
This solution not only supports ETH/SDH signal access but also provides encryption and seamless mapping over OTN network, ensuring secure, high-performance transmission without compromising network efficiency.
Figure 4: Multi-Service Access and Aggregation in OTN Encryption
Physical Isolation Enhances Data Security
FS data encryption solution utilizes physical isolation (hard pipe isolation) to enhance data security. Hard pipe isolation refers to the complete physical separation of traffic within the network, usually by dedicating specific wavelength channels or optical paths for different services or customers. Each "pipe" (or path) is allocated a fixed, dedicated channel or wavelength that cannot be shared with others.
As the MS100 Mux/Demux OMD08C can be customized for any wavelength between C21 and C60, the operator can assign different wavelengths for different customers or services. Since data travels on independent optical channels, the risk of cross-talk or data leakage between different services is minimized. There is no interference between different traffic streams, and network resources are allocated without competition. This guaranteed quality of service (QoS), and high-performance levels, especially for sensitive data of government and financial communications.
Figure 5: Physical Isolation
Optical or Electrical-Layer Protection for Data Backup
The solution supports Optical Channel Protection (OCP) and Optical Multiplex Section Protection (OMSP) in optical layer. With different deployment positions of optical line protection boards, individual optical channels or multiplex sections can be secured. This ensures that any disruption or failure in the optical layer—such as a fiber cut or signal degradation—does not compromise data transmission. The optical protection layer automatically reroutes traffic to a backup path, ensuring continuous service without manual intervention.
Additionally, it supports ODUk SNCP protection in electrical layer. It protects services on line boards as well as on the units positioned physically beyond the line boards. If signal failure occurs, the system automatically establishes a new connection with standby line boards or ports.
The solution provides a comprehensive, fail-safe approach to ensure the network’s stability, and the operators can choose what they want to make the critical services remain operational.
Unified Online Network Management Platform
The MS8100 Series and D710 Series are managed by the FCP Network Management Platform. It is a Software-Defined Networking (SDN)-based management system and provides several advantages, including centralized management, real-time monitoring, rapid fault detection and recovery. SDN enables dynamic resource allocation based on real-time traffic requirements. Administrators can optimize the network by real-time bandwidth and traffic adjustment to maximize resource usage and minimize waste.
Product List of FS Optical Encryption Solution
Product Tpye
Product Number
FS P/N
Product Description
Muxponder
18M2C2
D710 18M2C2, Multi-protocol Multi-rate 200G OTN Managed Transport Platform, with Layer-1 Encryption
Chassis
MS8100-CH5U
MS8100-CH5U, 12 Slots 5U Managed Unloaded Chassis, AC PSUs Redundancy
SDH Card
SGH8
MS8100 SGH8, 8 x SFP, SDH or Ethernet Service Card, Support STM-1/4/16, FE/GE
SH4
MS8100 SH4, 4 x SFP, SDH Cross Connection and Aggregation Card, Support STM-1/4/16
Line Card
TN4
MS8100 TN4, 4 x SFP+, OTU2 Hybrid Line Board
Transponder
OTU10
MS8100 OTU10, 5 Channels WDM Transponder (Converter), 10 SFP/SFP+ Slots
Switch
S3900-48T6S-R
S3900-48T6S-R, 48-Port Gigabit Ethernet L2+ Switch, 48 x Gigabit RJ45, with 6 x 10Gb SFP+ Uplinks, Stackable Switch
S5850-48S6Q
S5850-48S6Q, 48-Port Ethernet L3 Switch, 48 x 10Gb SFP+, with 6 x 40Gb QSFP+, Support MPLS&MLAG
PLC Splitter
PLC-132-1U-SCA
1 x 32 PLC Fiber Splitter, 1U 19" Rack Mount, SC/APC, Singlemode
OLT
OLT3610-08GP4S
8-Port GPON OLT with 4 × Gigabit Combo, 4 × 1G SFP and 4 × 10G SFP+ Uplink Ports
ONU
TA1910-4GVC-W
1-Port GPON/EPON HGU ONU with 4 x RJ45 LAN Ports, 2 x FXS RJ11 Ports, 1 x RF Port, and 4 x External Antennas (1200M WiFi)
ONU1710-1G
ONU1710-1G, XPON (GPON + EPON) ONU with 1 x PON, 1 x GE
ONU1710-4G-P
ONU1710-4G-P, XPON (GPON + EPON) SFU ONU with 1 x PON, 4 x GE PoE@55W
CFP2 Module
CFP2-DCO-200G-D71
Generic Compatible CFP2 DCO 200G DWDM Tunable Coherent 80km DOM Duplex LC SMF Optical Transceiver Module, Used with D710 Series
10G DWDM SFP+
DWDM-SFP10G-80
Cisco C21 DWDM-SFP10G-60.61 Compatible SFP+ 10G DWDM 1560.61nm 100GHz 80km DOM Duplex LC/UPC SMF Optical Transceiver Module for Transmission
10G SFP+
SFP-10GSR-85
Cisco SFP-10G-SR Compatible SFP+ 10GBASE-SR 850nm 300m DOM Duplex LC/UPC MMF Optical Transceiver Module
Conclusion
As data security becomes an increasingly critical concern for businesses and governments alike, FS's DWDM/OTN data encryption solution provides the ideal answer to safeguarding sensitive information across high-speed fiber-optic networks, and meeting the needs of low-rate signal access.
If you're looking for a high-performance, secure, and scalable solution to meet your encryption and transmission needs, don't hesitate to contact us.