Title: Emergent information security in critical infrastructures

Authors: Semir Daskapan, Willem G. Vree, Rene W. Wagenaar

Addresses: Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5015, 2600GA, Delft, The Netherlands. ' Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5015, 2600GA, Delft, The Netherlands. ' Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5015, 2600GA, Delft, The Netherlands

Abstract: The growing tendency to inter-weaving infrastructures makes them more complex, less manageable, and more vulnerable to random system failures. Several information systems are usually added to manage and control such infrastructures. However, in this internet era these information infrastructures have increasingly become the targets of sophisticated (denial of service) attacks, which cause random failures. Common technologies designed to improve the resilience of critical nodes in such information infrastructures are based on costly, dedicated, and limited redundant hardware systems. This paper explores the possibility to apply self-organisation and resource sharing techniques between the security nodes to increase the infrastructure resilience. It is possible then to achieve perpetual availability without dedicated redundant systems.

Keywords: fault tolerance; complexity; self-organisation; critical infrastructures; information systems; network security; immune system; attacks; next generation infrastructures; resource sharing; denial of service; internet; information security; survivability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCIS.2006.009441

International Journal of Critical Infrastructures, 2006 Vol.2 No.2/3, pp.247 - 260

Published online: 31 Mar 2006 *

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