Vulnerability modelling and mitigation strategies for hybrid networks

Hybrid networks nowadays consist of traditional IT components, Internet of Things (IoT) and industrial control systems (ICS) nodes with varying characteristics, making them genuinely heterogeneous in nature. Historically evolving from traditional internet-enabled IT servers, hybrid networks allow organisations to strengthen cybersecurity, increase flexibility, improve efficiency, enhance reliability, boost remote connectivity and easy management. Though hybrid networks offer significant benefits from business and operational perspectives, this integration has increased the complexity and security challenges to all connected nodes. The IT servers of these hybrid networks are high-budget devices with tremendous processing power and significant storage capacity. In contrast, IoT nodes are low-cost devices with limited processing power and capacity. In addition, the ICS nodes are programmed for dedicated functions with the least interference. The available cybersecurity solutions for hybrid networks are either for specific node types or address particular weaknesses. Due to these distinct characteristics, these solutions may place other nodes in vulnerable positions. This study addresses this gap by proposing a comprehensive vulnerability modelling and mitigation strategy. This proposed solution equally applies to each node type of hybrid network while considering their unique characteristics. For this purpose, the industry-wide adoption of the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) has been extended to embed the distinct characteristics of each node type in a hybrid network. To embed IoT features, the ‘attack vectors’ and ‘attack complexity vectors’ are modified and another metric “human safety index”, is integrated in the ‘Base metric group’ of CVSS. In addition, the ICS related characteristics are included in the ‘Environmental metric group’ of CVSS. This metric group is further enhanced to reflect the node resilience capabilities when evaluating the vulnerability score. The resilience of a node is evaluated by analysing the complex relationship of numerous contributing cyber security factors and practices. The evolved CVSSR-IoT-ICS framework proposed in the thesis measures the given vulnerabilities by adopting the unique dynamics of each node. These vulnerability scores are then mapped in the attack tree to reveal the critical nodes and shortest path to the target node. The mitigating strategy framework suggests the most efficient mitigation strategy to counter vulnerabilities by examining the node’s functionality, its locality, centrality, criticality, cascading impacts, available resources, and performance thresholds. Various case studies were conducted to analyse and evaluate our proposed vulnerability modelling and mitigation strategies on realistic supply chain systems. These analyses and evaluations confirm that the proposed solutions are highly effective for modelling the vulnerabilities while the mitigation strategies reduce the risks in dynamic and resource-constrained environments. The unified vulnerability modelling of hybrid networks minimises ambiguities, reduces complexities and identifies hidden deficiencies. It also improves system reliability and performance of heterogeneous networks while at the same time gaining acceptance for a universal vulnerability modelling framework across the cyber industry. The contributions have been published in reputable journals and conferences.Doctor of Philosoph

Understanding The Significance Of Cyber Security Threats

In the age of globalization, rapidly emerging digital infrastructures of states are open for the clandestine and malicious activities of virtual warriors. The dependency on cyberspace has revealed the digital vulnerabilities of states before their rivals. Hence, the national security of state, presently, is wrestling with the cyber security threats. The protection of core national values and sensitive infrastructure of states are under question. Therefore, the safety and security of digital assets of states have become one of the most serious concerns for the policymakers. The international cyber culture across has declared the national government of states more insecure and unprotected. The combination of offensive and defensive capabilities of state is the key instrument in the cyberspace for the security, and protection of their cyber borders. In this way, the central theme of the work attempts to highlight the significance of cyber security threats by elaborating the strategic dimension of global cyberspace

Genome-wide association studies for Fusarium head blight resistance in spring wheat germplasm for Northern Europe

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the major crops in the world and an important agricultural commodity in Finland with various uses. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a deadly disease of cereal crops and with the gradual increase in temperature and precipitation, it is becoming alarming to Finnish agriculture. Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a vomitoxin produced by Fusarium graminearum species during the FHB infection and is hazardous to health if taken in larger quantities by humans and animals. European Union has legalized the maximum allowed DON content in wheat flour for human consumption at 1.75 ppm. Various types of resistance against FHB are known till date, including tolerance and escape from the disease. Anther extrusion (AE) is a highly heritable trait in wheat and is mechanistically involved in resistance against FHB by preventing the availability of nutrients for the fungus. Other traits such as heading, maturity, and height have shown correlations with FHB incidence and severity in previous studies. Genomic information is crucial to identify markers to accelerate wheat breeding programs against FHB. This experiment was conducted at Boreal Plant Breeding Ltd. Finland using 198 spring wheat breeding lines in a row-and-column design with three replications in an artificially spawn-inoculated F. graminearum field. The goal of the project was to evaluate the genetic diversity for various agronomic and FHB-resistance traits and to estimate correlations among them. A genome-wide association study was also performed by using 11,987 SNP markers to investigate any marker-trait association(s) in the spring wheat breeding germplasm. Larger phenotypic variability was observed in both agronomic and FHB-resistance related traits. Many spurious associations were found with general linear models (Naïve and Q model). No marker-trait associations were observed among the traits in mixed linear model (K) after including kinship as a covariate. Cryptic relatedness among breeding lines has shown a significant role during association mapping. An unexpected negative correlation was found between DON and Fusarium severity indicating inaccuracies in phenotyping. A negative phenotypic and genotypic correlation was found between AE and DON. Future studies on the validation of AE as a phenotypic marker against DON accumulation is recommended. Repeating the experiment with the inclusion of more lines with Fhb1 gene in homozygous state might be helpful in finding reliable associations for FHB-resistance related traits

Genome-wide association studies for Fusarium head blight resistance in spring wheat germplasm for Northern Europe

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the major crops in the world and an important agricultural commodity in Finland with various uses. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a deadly disease of cereal crops and with the gradual increase in temperature and precipitation, it is becoming alarming to Finnish agriculture. Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a vomitoxin produced by Fusarium graminearum species during the FHB infection and is hazardous to health if taken in larger quantities by humans and animals. European Union has legalized the maximum allowed DON content in wheat flour for human consumption at 1.75 ppm. Various types of resistance against FHB are known till date, including tolerance and escape from the disease. Anther extrusion (AE) is a highly heritable trait in wheat and is mechanistically involved in resistance against FHB by preventing the availability of nutrients for the fungus. Other traits such as heading, maturity, and height have shown correlations with FHB incidence and severity in previous studies. Genomic information is crucial to identify markers to accelerate wheat breeding programs against FHB. This experiment was conducted at Boreal Plant Breeding Ltd. Finland using 198 spring wheat breeding lines in a row-and-column design with three replications in an artificially spawn-inoculated F. graminearum field. The goal of the project was to evaluate the genetic diversity for various agronomic and FHB-resistance traits and to estimate correlations among them. A genome-wide association study was also performed by using 11,987 SNP markers to investigate any marker-trait association(s) in the spring wheat breeding germplasm. Larger phenotypic variability was observed in both agronomic and FHB-resistance related traits. Many spurious associations were found with general linear models (Naïve and Q model). No marker-trait associations were observed among the traits in mixed linear model (K) after including kinship as a covariate. Cryptic relatedness among breeding lines has shown a significant role during association mapping. An unexpected negative correlation was found between DON and Fusarium severity indicating inaccuracies in phenotyping. A negative phenotypic and genotypic correlation was found between AE and DON. Future studies on the validation of AE as a phenotypic marker against DON accumulation is recommended. Repeating the experiment with the inclusion of more lines with Fhb1 gene in homozygous state might be helpful in finding reliable associations for FHB-resistance related traits

Maritime Politics in South Asia and Naval Compulsions of CPEC for Pakistan

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), highlighted both by Chinese and Pakistani leadership as the flagship project of Beijing's ‘Belt and Road (BRI) Initiative,’ is essentially a long-term plan for closer economic partnership. It promises immense benefits not only for the two nations directly involve but for the entire region, especially in terms of trade, transit and transportation. But at the same time, the development of sea-ports as part of BRI in general and Gwadar as part of CPEC in particular has provided a context to India to magnify its ‘concerns’ and aim for a renewed naval build-up. Chinese larger strategy is also seen by experts in the region and beyond as starting a new maritime contest in the so-called Indian Ocean. In this background, it seems that CPEC would lead toward increased maritime politics and contestations not only between Pakistan and India but would also involve China and US. Islamabad needs to carefully evaluate its options and develop its strategic response accordingly, involving but not limited to continuous development of its naval capability and an even closer maritime cooperation with China

Structural analysis of the Knølegga Fault Complex, NW Barents Sea

Structural analysis of the Knølegga Fault Complex has been done using 2D seismic reflection data set in order to understand the fault geometries, fault associated features, fault segmentation and temporal evolution of the study area. The boundary faults of the Knølegga Fault Complex comprises of the three softly-linked fault segments named as F-B, F1-b and F1c. The fault segments F-B and F1-b are ‘overlapping-synthetic’ fault segments while F1-b and F1-c are ‘approaching-synthetic’ fault segments. All three master faults have down-to-the west displacement. The displacement is transferred within the master faults; hence the master faults F-B, F1-b and F1-c represent the relay zones. The sole of the master faults is deeper than the Cenozoic sediments, which is in agreement with the observations made by previous authors. The master faults are placed in the category of ‘First-Class’ following Gabrielsen (1984). The maximum displacement is observed in the central master fault segment F1-b. The displacement decreases to the north and to the south of the key line E. The structural analysis revealed that the Knølegga Fault Complex lies in a tectonic setting which has undergone both extension and contraction. The prominent structures identified are the rotated fault blocks, growth faults and staircase normal fault geometries. The contractional structures within the study area are synclines and anticline. The major rifting event in the study area is related to break-up of the Norwegian-Greenland Sea in the early Eocene. The growth fault and minor faulting within the Oligocene sediments indicate the tectonic activity during the Oligocene. The contractional structures present in the study area seem to be the result of compression in the Oligocene?-Miocene in the direction of NW-SE to WNW-ESE. The compressional stresses have deformed both the hanging wall and the footwall. This contraction is older than the Pliocene-Pleistocene glacial sediments as no contractional structures are observed in the younger Pliocene-Pleistocene sediments in the study area

John G. Sommer. Empowering the Oppressed: Grassroots Advocacy Movements in India. New Delhi: Sage Publications, 2001. 207 pages. Paperback. Price not given.

Advocacy movements all over the world have been quite instrumental in bringing about social change. The efforts of groups involved in such movements are directed towards realising the core human values of justice and equality by securing the human and civil rights of the poor, oppressed, and marginalised sections of society. Lately, many groups have realised that merely obliterating the effects of oppression, discrimination, and injustice is not enough—these efforts must be supplemented by attempts to address their root causes as well. Only by doing so, the constructive changes occurring in society owing to the struggle of these movements can become sustainable

Transforming Academic Discourse: A Case Study of International Relations as Discipline

The study of social sciences in general and the discipline of International Relations (IR) in particular, always remained the areas of less scholarly significance, because the leading academic circles remained less-inclined towards the non-western production of knowledge in the international system. The main discussions of IR generally revolve around the western discourse and approaches to knowledge. The end of the decades-long Cold War and the elimination of the Soviet Union from the world politics allowed the Western academic circles to influence the production of knowledge in the international system. In this way, the production of knowledge and the promotion of knowledge ignored the non-western academic perspectives. Contrary to conventional academic patterns, there is a need to realize the significance of non-western literature in academics while updating the conventional academic patterns. In this scenario, this paper attempts to address the questions of the production of knowledge and promotion of knowledge on the basis of relative perspectives. While emphasizing the non-western or non-American approaches to knowledge, the central theme of the paper endeavors to highlight the importance of the non-western way of looking at world politics

Peace Talks with Taliban: Expectations, Realities and Way Forward

The prodigious campaign of Taliban has emerged as the gravest threat to political stability, social harmony, and economic growth of Pakistan while weakening the contemporary political, social and economic structure of the country. In this way, the combination of religious orthodox and Islamic militancy has emerged as one of the potential challenges for Islamabad. The growing Islamic vigilance in the form of Taliban has forced the Nawaz administration of Pakistan to overcome the threatening Taliban campaign which has reached into its zenith, and caused social, political, religious and sectarian intolerance in the country. Therefore, the leading decision makers of Islamabad decided to arrange a peace talk with Taliban. The optimistic behaviour of Nawaz government prefers to adopt an irrational policy instead of calculating the hard-core realities associated to the Taliban, which is an ideological phenomenon rather than a force of clerically devoted combatants. In order to accelerate a dialogue based peace process with Taliban, it is essential to comprehend the combination of cleric and political creeds inherited in Talibanization. Abandoned fighting force of Taliban is seeking adequate and persistently dispassionate approach rather than a counterfeit talk policy. Therefore, the central theme of the research tries to define the level of incompatibility between estimated expectations and ground realities while forecasting the applicable and implementable way forward.&nbsp