A Software Defined Network information security risk assessment based on Pythagorean fuzzy sets

Abstract

The concept of software-defined networking is introduced to the networking domain to enhance networking capabilities to cope with network resources’ fast-growing requirements. Initially, security in Software Defined Network (SDN) is not considered as a priority concern, but later many research surveys taken place for determining the security loopholes in SDN architecture. To date, no algorithm exists for determining information security in contrast to SDN architecture or SDN based architecture. Here, a mechanism is introduced to determine the information risk associated with SDN or SDN based architecture. The SDN properties influence themselves; thus, the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method is incorporated in the proposed algorithm as a comprehensive mechanism while determining the information risk. To be specific, this proposed algorithm is divided into three different phases wherein; the first phase incorporates the Pythagorean Fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory method (PFDEMATEL) for determining the influences among SDN properties and vulnerabilities. The second phase implements the Pythagorean Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchical Process (PFAHP) for evaluating the priority of the severity weights of SDN properties along with vulnerabilities. Lastly, phase 3 implements information entropy to determine the overall SDN system risk. Our proposition is introduced in the first place to help the network administrator to determine associated risk in their SDN or SDN based architecture before the actual implementation and take proper countermeasures while implementing.