Securing Underwater Acoustic Networks: A Comprehensive Study

Global tensions highlight the critical role of communications for both state and non-state organizations. Consequently, the emerging field of maritime, particularly underwater communications, is poised to gain significance. This philosophy is highlighted by the standardization of protocols such as JANUS by NATO. Introducing an IP adaptation layer, such as IPv6, for underwater communications seems intuitive but requires adaptations due to the constraints of the underwater environment, especially in terms of security. By examining the relevance of protocols like DTLS coupled with SCHC, which combine network header compression and datagram security, we have defined a balance between security and bandwidth limitations for underwater sensor networks. We mainly validate the feasibility of our design through simulations conducted on personal computing systems, which replicate the communication protocols and data translation within a controlled environment. This step ensures our approach's viability before potential future implementation on prototype acoustic modems. Therefore, this work aims to underline the advancements in secure underwater communication protocols, offering insights into their design, challenges, and potential impacts on ocean engineering, ecosystem monitoring, and maritime cybersecurity.