A Structuration Agency Approach to Security Policy Enforcement in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Abstract

ABSTRACT A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is a self-organizing, self-configuring confederation of wireless systems. MANET devices join and leave the network asynchronously at will, and there are no predefined client or server roles – roles change based on the nature of a given communication. The dynamic topologies, mobile communications structure, decentralized control, and anonymity creates many challenges to the security of systems and network infrastructure in a MANET environment. Consequently, this extreme form of dynamic and distributed model requires a reevaluation of conventional approaches to security enforcements. Recent developments in agent frameworks have contributed to some potential solutions for security policy enforcements for MANETs. Building on these developments, and extending principles from structuration theory (Giddens, 1984), we formulated a socio-biologically inspired approach to MANET security we refer to as structuration agency theory.