Journal of Networking and Network Applications

I. Special Issue on Softwarized Networks and Security: Challenges and Emerging Solutions

1. Aims and Scopes

The rapid evolution of communication networks toward highly programmable, virtualized, cloud-native, and intelligent infrastructures has transformed the design, deployment, and operation of modern networking systems. Technologies such as Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Network Function Virtualization (NFV), network slicing, intent-based networking, Quantum Networking, and AI-driven network management are enabling unprecedented flexibility, scalability, and automation in next-generation networks. While these advances offer significant operational benefits, they also introduce new security challenges arising from increased programmability, centralized control architectures, virtualization layers, multi-tenant environments, dynamic service orchestration, and software-defined control mechanisms. Ensuring the security, privacy, trustworthiness, resilience, and dependability of softwarized networks has therefore become a critical research priority for future Internet infrastructures, 5G/6G systems, industrial networks, and cyber-physical systems.

This Special Issue aims to bring together researchers, practitioners, industry experts, and policymakers to present cutting-edge research, innovative methodologies, practical solutions, and emerging trends addressing security challenges in softwarized networking environments. The issue seeks high-quality original contributions that advance the state-of-the-art in securing programmable, virtualized, autonomous, and intelligent networks. This Special Issue welcomes theoretical, experimental, simulation-based, and practical contributions covering, but not limited to the following topics:

A. Security in Software-Defined Networking (SDN)

• SDN control plane security 

• Secure SDN controllers and controller placement 

• East-West and North-South interface protection 

• Secure flow rule management 

• SDN attack detection and mitigation 

• Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) defense in SDN 

• Threat modeling and vulnerability assessment in SDN environments

B. Security of Network Function Virtualization (NFV)

• Secure virtual network functions (VNFs) 

• VNF isolation and multi-tenancy security 

• NFV orchestration and management security 

• Hypervisor and container security 

• Secure service function chaining 

• Trust management in NFV infrastructure

C. Programmable Data Plane Security

• P4-based network security mechanisms 

• Security of programmable switches 

• Data plane monitoring and anomaly detection 

• Runtime verification of programmable forwarding behaviors 

• Secure in-network computing

D. 5G, Beyond 5G, and 6G Network Security

• Security of network slicing 

• Open RAN (O-RAN) security 

• Security in virtualized radio access networks 

• Secure service orchestration in 5G/6G 

• AI-native security architectures for 6G 

• Security challenges in ultra-low latency and massive IoT deployment

E. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Network Security

• AI-driven threat detection and response 

• Federated learning for network security 

• Explainable AI for security analytics 

• Adversarial machine learning in networking 

• Intelligent intrusion detection systems 

• Autonomous security orchestration and remediation

F. Zero Trust and Identity-Centric Networking

• Zero-trust networking architectures 

• Identity and access management 

• Continuous authentication and authorization 

• Trust frameworks for programmable networks 

• Policy-driven security management

G. Secure Network Automation and Orchestration

• Intent-based security management 

• Secure network automation frameworks 

• Policy verification and compliance 

• Security-aware orchestration 

• Autonomous network security operation

H. Internet of Things (IoT) and Cyber-Physical Systems Security

• Secure IoT networking architectures 

• Industrial IoT and Industry 4.0 security 

• Smart city network security 

• Secure edge intelligence 

• Trustworthy cyber-physical infrastructure

I. Emerging Security Challenges

• Quantum-safe networking security 

• Post-quantum cryptography for programmable networks 

• Digital twins for network security assessment 

• Security of autonomous and self-driving networks 

• Green networking and security trade-offs 

• Security for integrated terrestrial-satellite networks 

• Resilience against advanced persistent threats (APTs)

J. Security Measurement, Verification, and Testing

• Formal methods for network security verification 

• Security benchmarking and evaluation 

• Digital forensics in Softwarized networks 

• Security testing and penetration analysis 

• Network resilience and survivability assessment

2. Special Issue Editors

Guest Editor:  Prof. Bishnu Prasad Gautam

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://researchmap.jp/gautambp?lang=en

Suwa University of Science, Nagano, Japan

Interests: Computer Networks, Network Management and Monitoring, AIoT

Guest Editor: Asst. Prof. Babu R. Dawadi

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.baburd.com.np 

Dept. of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Kritipur, Nepal

Interests: IoT and Edge Network Security, Intelligent Networking, Distributed Computing

Guest Editor: Prof. Li Duan

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://faculty.bjtu.edu.cn/9432/ 

School of Cyberspace Science and Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China

Interests: AI Security, Blockchain and Privacy Computing

Guest Editor: Prof. Xuewen Dong

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://faculty.xidian.edu.cn/DXW/zh_CN/index.htm

School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, China

Interests: Blockchain, SDN Security, AI Security

3. Author’s Guidelines

The submissions should follow the formatting guidelines of the Journal of Networking and Network Applications (https://iecscience.org/public/ueditor/php/upload/file/20200202/1580614065642302.zip). Any questions regarding this special issue should be sent to the guest editors. All submitted papers will be reviewed by at least three reviewers and selected based on their originality, significance, relevance, and clarity of presentation. The manuscript should be prepared in J-NaNA Latex standard and converted into a PDF for auto-submission system. Electronic paper should be submitted to the J-NaNA Submission System at https://www.manuscriptmanager.net/jnna.

4. Keywords

• Softwarized Networks

• Network Security

• SDN Security 

• IBN Security

• NDN Security

• Post-Quantum Security

• Quantum-Safe Networking

• Zero Trust Networking

• Security Orchestration

• Network Slicing Security

• Open RAN Security

• Edge Computing Security

• Container Security

• Kubernetes Security

• AI for Cybersecurity

• Machine Learning for Network Security

• IoT Security

• Industrial IoT Security

• Cyber-Physical Systems Security

• Secure Telemetry,

• Network Monitoring and Analytics

5. Publication Schedule

Manuscript Submission Deadline: September 15, 2026
Notification of Acceptance/Rejection/Revision: October 20, 2026
Final Manuscript Due: November 20, 2026
Tentative Publication Date: December 20, 2026

Details about this special issue is available for download by the link J-NaNA 2026SI--Softwarized Networks and Security.pdf

Special Issues are an important component of IEC journals. They deal with more focused topics with high current interest falling within the scope of the journal in which they are published. They should be organized by recognized experts in the area and attract articles of the highest quality. Special Issue proposals are welcome at any time during the year.

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• The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is No fee.

Proposals for Special Issues should be submitted by the Lead Guest Editor of the Special Issue and should include the following:

• Special Issue Title

• Lead Guest Editor (Including full name, email address, affiliation information)

• Guest Editor (Including full name, email address, affiliation information)

  Note: Affiliation information should include your department, university, city and country or institution, city and country.

• Submission Deadline

• Publication Date

• Description: A 150-400 words summary about your Special Issue

If you would like to propose a Special Issue and be the Lead Guest Editor, please download Proposal Form below, fill it out and send to [email protected].

J-NaNA-Special Issue Proposal Form.doc