The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) awarded contracts to five researchers to develop new methods to identify Network/Internet-scale Disruptive Events (NIDEs).
When internet connectivity is disrupted, it can have a major impact on critical infrastructure systems, such as energy and water systems, the finance sector, commerce, and public safety and emergency communications systems.
S&T’s new Predict, Assess Risk, Identify (and Mitigate) Disruptive Internet-scale Network Events (PARIDINE) project is designed to develop innovative technologies to identify, classify, and report NIDES.
“Successfully defending critical infrastructure systems requires providing owners and operators the capabilities to monitor, identify and defend against network/internet disruptive events,” William Bryan, senior official performing the duties of the under secretary for Science and Technology, said. “These research and development efforts will significantly enhance our ability to spot and thwart attacks on the nation’s critical systems.”
The five contracts were awarded to the Center for Applied Internet Data Analysis (CAIDA), University of California, San Diego; SecureLogix, San Antonio, Texas; Two Six Labs, Arlington, Virginia; University of Southern California Information Sciences Institute (USC-ISI), Los Angeles, California; and the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. The five contracts total $11,511,565.
“Each of the selected organizations have proposed innovative approaches that will significantly advance the ability of network defenders to detect NIDEs and take steps to mitigate the impact of the attacks,” S&T Program Manager Ann Cox said. “Once launched, these solutions will help tilt the playing field in the favor of network defenders.”