Optical layer and quantum digital twins for enhancing secure autonomous network operation

Abstract

This paper reviews the recent research advances and open issues related with the use of digital twins for secure autonomous network operation. In particular, we focus on two different solutions that co-exist as part of the overall intelligent network control and management system. On the one hand, the OCATA optical layer network digital twin is presented as a tool that can detect perturbation and variations in optical constellation samples in order to detect and identify attacks on machine learning pipelines compromising secure autonomous network operation. On the other hand, the DARIUS quantum digital twin is presented as a tool that allows improving the behavior of real quantum key distribution (QKD) systems by increasing their key exchange rate while keeping the outstanding ability to detect eavesdropping attacks.

This work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 101092766 (ALLEGRO Project) and from the ICREA Institution.

Peer Reviewed

Postprint (author's final draft)