Keysight Technologies Launches Security Test Solution for High-Speed ​​Ethernet Media Access Control

Keysight Technologies Launches Innovative Security Test Solution for High-Speed ​​Ethernet Media Access Control

Encrypt network-to-network and device-to-network connections to protect data in the cloud and data center

June 7, 2021, Beijing, China - Keysight Technologies recently announced the launch of a media access control security (MACsec) test solution for high-speed Ethernet networks. The solution can provide encryption testing and will effectively protect the security of mobile data in cloud and data center environments. Keysight provides advanced design and verification solutions designed to accelerate innovation and create a secure and connected world.

Whether it’s hyperscale data centers, 5G networks with Open RAN, or in-vehicle networks, data volumes are increasing rapidly, fueled by privacy regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). As a result, every layer of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) stack must be secure as data moves from one destination to the next.

MACsec, defined by the IEEE 802.1AE standard, not only provides wire-speed encrypted throughput for high-speed Ethernet, it also performs important authentication and encryption tasks when transmitting packets between two MACsec-enabled devices at Layer 2. Today, it has become a key encryption technology in conjunction with new generations of chips, routers, and switches.

Keysight MACsec test solutions offer the following advantages:

• Comprehensive MACsec capabilities enable verification of hardware design and software stack implementation all the way to system integration.

• Supports benchmarking encrypted throughput under realistic mixed traffic conditions for cloud and data center workloads.

• Ensure service continuity during key rotation periods and stability under various adverse conditions.

• Provides line-rate MACsec traffic encryption/decryption at 100GE with four-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM4) and non-return-to-zero (NRZ) conditions; provides static security association key (SAK) or dynamic key negotiation using the MACsec Key Agreement (MKA) protocol on the Keysight AresONE high-performance 400GE test platform.

"Hyperscale cloud service providers and data center operators are adopting MACsec to protect extranet connections in their network infrastructure because of its promise to secure data-in-motion without sacrificing performance," said Ram Periakaruppan, vice president and general manager of Keysight's Network Test and Security Solutions. "Keysight has provided an innovative solution that provides complete MACsec testing at the silicon, switch and router levels for large-scale cloud and data center deployments, enabling customers to accurately validate encryption and throughput without impacting network performance."

About Keysight Technologies

Keysight Technologies is a leading technology company dedicated to helping enterprises, service providers and government customers accelerate innovation to create a secure and connected world. From design simulation, prototype verification, production testing to optimization of network and cloud environments, Keysight Technologies provides a full range of test and analysis solutions to help customers deeply optimize the network and bring their electronic products to market faster and at a lower cost. Our customers are spread across the global communications ecosystem, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics terminal markets. In fiscal 2020, Keysight Technologies' revenue reached US$4.2 billion.