Assessing the Latency of Network Layer Security in 5G Networks

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the latency impact of security protocols like IPsec and WireGuard on 5G networks, crucial for maintaining ultra-reliable low latency communication in critical scenarios.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of IPsec and WireGuard's latency overhead in 5G, guiding security protocol selection for real-time applications.

Findings

IPsec has minimal latency impact when properly configured

WireGuard presents a potential alternative with comparable performance

Security overhead can be optimized to preserve 5G's low latency features

Abstract

In contrast to its predecessors, 5G supports a wide range of commercial, industrial, and critical infrastructure scenarios. One key feature of 5G, ultra-reliable low latency communication, is particularly appealing to such scenarios for its real-time capabilities. However, 5G's enhanced security, mostly realized through optional security controls, imposes additional overhead on the network performance, potentially hindering its real-time capabilities. To better assess this impact and guide operators in choosing between different options, we measure the latency overhead of IPsec when applied over the N3 and the service-based interfaces to protect user and control plane data, respectively. Furthermore, we evaluate whether WireGuard constitutes an alternative to reduce this overhead. Our findings show that IPsec, if configured correctly, has minimal latency impact and thus is a prime candidate to secure real-time critical scenarios.