The problem of engineering high-quality security protocol implementations for Multi-Level Security (MLS) operating systems is the focus of this project. We are developing an integrated architecture that supports high-performance networking, secure system design principles, and security specific enhancements for cryptography implementation and policy implementation. Our approach builds on modular, composable architecture principles and design techniques. The research challenge is to show that this can be extended to multi-level secure systems and continue to support the dual goals of performance and protocol security without loss of quality in either.

This work adds the underpinnings for MLS design principles to the principles of modular protocol design and engineering protocols for high performance in modern networks. During the last two years we have shown the strength of our architectural approach in developing a composable cryptographic protocol library and demonstrating the decomposition and complex security protocols. This work expands on that effort in an MLS environment and also investigates using additional processing power (more processors, special purpose processors) within the same architectural framework for supporting high-speed software cryptography.