Preemptive modelling towards classifying vulnerability of DDoS attack in SDN environment

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) has become an essential networking concept towards escalating the networking capabilities that are highly demanded future internet system, which is immensely distributed in nature. Owing to the novel concept in the field of network, it is still shrouded with security problems. It is also found that the Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack is one of the prominent problems in the SDN environment. After reviewing existing research solutions towards resisting DDoS attack in SDN, it is found that still there are many open-end issues. Therefore, these issues are identified and are addressed in this paper in the form of a preemptive model of security. Different from existing approaches, this model is capable of identifying any malicious activity that leads to a DDoS attack by performing a correct classification of attack strategy using a machine learning approach. The paper also discusses the applicability of best classifiers using machine learning that is effective against DDoS attack

Deep Learning Enhanced Visulization Tool For Network Monitroing

In this era of web technology driven by social networks, cloud computing, big data, and E-business, technology is also rapidly evolving. Most of the information is stored and managed via the Internet. With an increase in these development tools and techniques, cyber-crime is constantly increasing. The level of damage these attacks cause to the system affects the organizations to the core. Contemporary Deep Learning and Machine Learning technologies have become the popular choice of intrusion detection systems for the detection and prediction of cyber-attack. Similarly, cyber-security visualization is also an integral and essential part of monitoring network traffic and optimization. Abundant work has already been done to detect attacks, but monitoring these attacks still appears as elusive as detection for cyber analysts. However, the current open-source visualization tool has not been integrated with Deep Learning models to gain intelligence on the network. While many researchers [3] are already working on cyber-attack defense mechanisms, this research also takes advantage of Deep Learning and Machine Learning technologies to contribute to the work against such crimes. A novel Deep Learning enhanced visualization tool is also proposed for malicious traffic node prediction and monitoring. The proposed method exploits the intriguing properties of Deep Learning models to gain intelligence for network monitoring. A real-world DARPA dataset has been used to validate the proposed method. Index Terms—Cyber-security, data analysis, data science, darpa-dataset, decision tree, deep learning, deep neural network, DL model, ML model, network analysis tool, network monitoring tool, supervised learning, support vector machine, visualization tool

Hosting critical infrastructure services in the cloud environment considerations

Critical infrastructure technology vendors will inevitability take advantage of the benefits offered by the cloud computing paradigm. While this may offer improved performance and scalability, the associated security threats impede this progression. Hosting critical infrastructure services in the cloud environment may seem inane to some, but currently remote access to the control system over the internet is commonplace. This shares the same characteristics as cloud computing, i.e., on-demand access and resource pooling. There is a wealth of data used within critical infrastructure. There needs to be an assurance that the confidentiality, integrity and availability of this data remains. Authenticity and non-repudiation are also important security requirements for critical infrastructure systems. This paper provides an overview of critical infrastructure and the cloud computing relationship, whilst detailing security concerns and existing protection methods. Discussion on the direction of the area is presented, as is a survey of current protection methods and their weaknesses. Finally, we present our observation and our current research into hosting critical infrastructure services in the cloud environment, and the considerations for detecting cloud attacks. © 2015 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd

A survey of defense mechanisms against distributed denial of service (DDOS) flooding attacks

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) flooding attacks are one of the biggest concerns for security professionals. DDoS flooding attacks are typically explicit attempts to disrupt legitimate users' access to services. Attackers usually gain access to a large number of computers by exploiting their vulnerabilities to set up attack armies (i.e., Botnets). Once an attack army has been set up, an attacker can invoke a coordinated, large-scale attack against one or more targets. Developing a comprehensive defense mechanism against identified and anticipated DDoS flooding attacks is a desired goal of the intrusion detection and prevention research community. However, the development of such a mechanism requires a comprehensive understanding of the problem and the techniques that have been used thus far in preventing, detecting, and responding to various DDoS flooding attacks. In this paper, we explore the scope of the DDoS flooding attack problem and attempts to combat it. We categorize the DDoS flooding attacks and classify existing countermeasures based on where and when they prevent, detect, and respond to the DDoS flooding attacks. Moreover, we highlight the need for a comprehensive distributed and collaborative defense approach. Our primary intention for this work is to stimulate the research community into developing creative, effective, efficient, and comprehensive prevention, detection, and response mechanisms that address the DDoS flooding problem before, during and after an actual attack. © 1998-2012 IEEE

Real-time monitoring as a supplementary security component of vigilantism in modern network environments

© 2020, The Author(s). The phenomenon of network vigilantism is autonomously attributed to how anomalies and obscure activities from adversaries can be tracked in real-time. Needless to say, in today’s dynamic, virtualized, and complex network environments, it has become undeniably necessary for network administrators, analysts as well as engineers to practice network vigilantism, on traffic as well as other network events in real-time. The reason is to understand the exact security posture of an organization’s network environment at any given time. This is driven by the fact that modern network environments do, not only present new opportunities to organizations but also a different set of new and complex cybersecurity challenges that need to be resolved daily. The growing size, scope, complexity, and volume of networked devices in our modern network environments also makes it hard even for the most experienced network administrators to independently provide the breadth and depth of knowledge needed to oversee or diagnose complex network problems. Besides, with the growing number of Cyber Security Threats (CSTs) in the world today, many organisations have been forced to change the way they plan, develop and implement cybersecurity strategies as a way to reinforce their ability to respond to cybersecurity incidents. This paper, therefore, examines the relevance of Real-Time Monitoring (RTM) as a supplementary security component of vigilantism in modern network environments, more especially for proper planning, preparedness, and mitigation in case of a cybersecurity incident. Additionally, this paper also investigates some of the key issues and challenges surrounding the implementation of RTM for security vigilantism in our modern network environments

Secure data sharing and analysis in cloud-based energy management systems

Analysing data acquired from one or more buildings (through specialist sensors, energy generation capability such as PV panels or smart meters) via a cloud-based Local Energy Management System (LEMS) is increasingly gaining in popularity. In a LEMS, various smart devices within a building are monitored and/or controlled to either investigate energy usage trends within a building, or to investigate mechanisms to reduce total energy demand. However, whenever we are connecting externally monitored/controlled smart devices there are security and privacy concerns. We describe the architecture and components of a LEMS and provide a survey of security and privacy concerns associated with data acquisition and control within a LEMS. Our scenarios specifically focus on the integration of Electric Vehicles (EV) and Energy Storage Units (ESU) at the building premises, to identify how EVs/ESUs can be used to store energy and reduce the electricity costs of the building. We review security strategies and identify potential security attacks that could be carried out on such a system, while exploring vulnerable points in the system. Additionally, we will systematically categorize each vulnerability and look at potential attacks exploiting that vulnerability for LEMS. Finally, we will evaluate current counter measures used against these attacks and suggest possible mitigation strategies

Micro Smart Micro-grid and Its Cyber Security Aspects in a Port Infrastructure

Maritime ports are intensive energy areas with a plenty of electrical systems that require an average power of many tens of megawatts (MW). Competitiveness, profits, reduction of pollution, reliability of operations, carbon emission trading are important energy related considerations for any port authority. Current technology allows the deployment of a local micro-grid of the size of tenths of MW, capable of islanded operation in case of emergency and to grant an increasing energy independency. Ownership of the grid permits a large flexibility on prices of energy sold inside the port, trading on local electric market and reduction of pollution. Renewable energy generation has a large impact on costs since features a low marginal cost. Unfortunately the smart grid is a critical asset within the port infrastructure and its intelligence is a high-level target for cyberattacks. Such attacks are often based on malicious software (malware), which makes use of a controlling entity on the network to coordinate and propagate. In this document, we will outline some features of a port smart grid and typical characteristics of cyber-attacks including potential ways to recognize it and suggestion for effective countermeasures