Committee: 

Dr. Owen, Advisor       

Dr. Copeland, Chair

Dr. BeyahClark

Abstract: The objective of this proposed research is to investigate methods in software defined networking (SDN) to mitigate existing attack vectors to network edge devices. Where tight coupling of control and data planes within traditional network devices makes edge security tediously complex, expensive, and error-prone, SDN separates the two planes to offer a simple programmable means to dynamically control OpenFlow switches, which theoretically offers new avenues for edge device security. Hence, Network Flow Guard (NFG) offers a modular,  SDN based solution to counter known security vulnerabilities (e.g., rogue DHCP servers, ARP Poisoning, Rogue APs and unauthorized NAT devices).