A method may include determining, by a first network device, a type of control channel to open across a transport in a software-defined network (SDN). The method may also include establishing the control channel with a control device via a control plane that is separate from a data plane. The method may further include advertising first security association parameters to the control device via the control channel. The method may include receiving, from the control device via the control channel, second security association parameters associated with a second network device. The method may also include establishing a data plane connection with the second network device using the second security association parameters.