Selecting an ATM or IP Security Solution to Secure an IP over ATM Virtual Private Network

In 1999, the ATM Forum international consortium approved the first version of its ATM security specifications, whereas the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) published a series of IP security RFC. The aim of those documents is to protect communications over Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network, respectively the Internet Protocol (IP) network by offering data confidentiality, partners authentication, etc. This paper considers an IP/ATM VPN environment and addresses the best security services placement either in the IP or ATM protocol and the positioning of those security solutions in the architecture. Traffic filtering aspects are also considered.