A first computing node configures for communication with a second computing node according to a secure Media Access Layer (MAC) layer communication protocol. The first computing node transmits a first message, to the second computing node. The first message includes at least a first indication that the first computing node is capable of communicating according to the secure MAC layer communication protocol based on a pre-shared secret key. The first computing nodes determines to communicate with the second computing node according to the secure MAC layer communication protocol based on one of a pre-shared secret key or a distributed shared key. The first computing node, at least in part based on the determining, transmits a second message to the second computing node according to the secure MAC layer communication protocol based on the one of the pre-shared secret key or the distributed shared key.