Patent ID: 10778415

Abstract:
In various embodiments, the disclosed systems, methods, and apparatuses describe the use of encryption mechanisms (for example, a Kerberos encryption mechanism) to prevent the theft of a device, such as, a network switch (for example, an Ethernet switch) and/or any physical modules (such as, pluggable optics modules) stored therein. In one embodiment, one or more keys can be centralized in the device such as a network device or can be decentralized at a head-end, or stored higher in various layers of the network. In an embodiment, a lack of matching of the various keys associated with the network switch and/or the physical modules and/or packets encrypted and/or decrypted with the keys to one another upon a test, can render the devices such as a network device inoperable and/or may render one or more pluggable optics, a group of such pluggable optics or an entire PCB board or switch comprising one or more pluggable optics and/or physical modules inoperable.