The data used to monitor and control the telecommunications network is often transmitted on a separate network that carries only the network management traffic (i.e., no user traffic). This network is often referred to as the telecommunication management network (TMN) as described in Recommendation ITU-T M.3010. It is imperative that this traffic be secured. The management traffic is usually categorized in terms of information required to perform fault, configuration, performance, accounting and security management functions. Network security management deals with setting up a secure management network as well as managing the security of information related to the three security planes of the ITU-T X.805 security architecture.