Enhancing network security through integration of game theory in software-defined networking framework

Abstract This paper presents a comprehensive study on the implementation of a Security-Enhanced Software-Defined Networking (SEC-SDN) framework integrated with game theory modeling and Snort, an open-source intrusion detection system, to strengthen cloud environments against Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. As cloud computing continues to dominate the technological landscape, ensuring robust security for these highly scalable yet vulnerable systems is critical. The proposed SEC-SDN framework incorporates game theory to model dynamic interactions between attackers and defenders, enabling proactive and adaptive decision making for threat mitigation. By integrating Snort with SEC-SDN, the framework gains enhanced monitoring capabilities, facilitating real-time detection of malicious traffic patterns and the immediate enforcement of security policies to neutralize threats. This synergistic approach not only limits the impact of DDoS attacks but also preserves the availability and integrity of cloud services. A series of simulated DDoS attack scenarios were conducted on a cloud-based network to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed framework. The results demonstrate significant improvements in threat detection, response times, and overall resilience of cloud environments against cyber threats. The findings highlight the potential of combining SEC-SDN, game theory modeling, and intrusion detection systems such as Snort to establish a scalable, adaptive, and robust security framework. This study contributes to the advancement of cloud security by proposing an innovative solution that dynamically evolves to address the increasingly sophisticated tactics of cyber attackers, ensuring the reliability and continuity of cloud services.