Cyber security research frameworks for coevolutionary network defense

Cyber security is increasingly a challenge for organizations everywhere. Defense systems that require less expert knowledge and can adapt quickly to threats are strongly needed to combat the rise of cyber attacks. Computational intelligence techniques can be used to rapidly explore potential solutions while searching in a way that is unaffected by human bias. Several architectures have been created for developing and testing systems used in network security, but most are meant to provide a platform for running cyber security experiments as opposed to automating experiment processes. In the first paper, we propose a framework termed Distributed Cyber Security Automation Framework for Experiments (DCAFE) that enables experiment automation and control in a distributed environment. Predictive analysis of adversaries is another thorny issue in cyber security. Game theory can be used to mathematically analyze adversary models, but its scalability limitations restrict its use. Computational game theory allows us to scale classical game theory to larger, more complex systems. In the second paper, we propose a framework termed Coevolutionary Agent-based Network Defense Lightweight Event System (CANDLES) that can coevolve attacker and defender agent strategies and capabilities and evaluate potential solutions with a custom network defense simulation. The third paper is a continuation of the CANDLES project in which we rewrote key parts of the framework. Attackers and defenders have been redesigned to evolve pure strategy, and a new network security simulation is devised which specifies network architecture and adds a temporal aspect. We also add a hill climber algorithm to evaluate the search space and justify the use of a coevolutionary algorithm --Abstract, page iv

Show Me the Green: Three Essays on Information Systems Value and Environmental Performance in Global Organizations.

Businesses utilize information systems (IS) to increase revenues, reduce costs, and spur innovation. IS automate tasks, generate and deliver information, and can transform core value creation processes. As climate change and its associated challenges become increasingly relevant to business enterprises worldwide, IS are a key tool in enabling their response. Prior research shows that IS can either aid or inhibit organizational efforts, yet we do not fully understand their influence in this important context. This dissertation presents three essays examining how IS affects financial market value and greenhouse gas emissions performance in large businesses. The first essay (Chapter 2) introduces a method utilized in chapter 3. After finding a surprising dearth of international event studies in the IS discipline, a multiple-factor method is selected from related management literature to estimate international financial market reaction. Its performance relative to the commonly-used single-factor model is evaluated with a Monte Carlo analysis. Error correction improvement of the multiple factor model is calculated to be 44%-99% over the single-factor model for conditions observed in world markets 2000-2012. The second essay (Chapter 3) utilizes the multiple-factor model from chapter 2 to investigate international financial market reaction to Carbon Management Systems (CMS) adoption. CMS, a class of IS, enable the capture and management of carbon footprints. Three main results emerge. First, shareholders do not react positively to CMS announcements, as wealth effects are either not significant or negative, depending on the specification. Second, markets appear to penalize firms in more carbon regulated countries versus others, consistent with theory. Lastly, negative reactions to CMS appear to be dampening over time. The third essay (Chapter 4) examines the impact of IS on firm GHG emissions for large corporations with a presence in North America. This first-of-its-kind analysis finds interaction effects between GHG reduction plans and the physical deployment scope of ERP modules for Enterprise Support (e.g. HR, Finance, Accounting). Corporations with reduction plans in place and the highest 18% of ES physical scope are associated with reduced CO2 emissions. A one-standard-deviation increase in the ES physical scope deployment measure reduces GHG emissions by 46.63% for these companies.PhDBusiness AdministrationUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113461/1/danrush_1.pd

Do Carbon Management System Adoption Announcements Affect Market Value?

In this paper we conduct an event study to test the hypothesis that carbon management systems (CMS) are perceived by financial markets to be value-adding IS investments worth more than their costs. After populating a list of over 200 exchange-traded CMS adopters, we search newswires and specialty news outlets to identify 62 adoption announcements over a 10 year period. These are analyzed for a 3 day window starting with the announcement and we find that the mean cumulative abnormal returns (MCARs) from CMS announcements are 1.04%. A sub-analysis by firm size confirms earlier IS research results that smaller firms experience larger returns. Another sub-analysis by industry finds a potentially surprising result that lower-C02 emission industries accrue larger MCARs than high-emitting industries, though further research will be required to establish this conclusively

Developing a New Generation of Alpha Project Managers

Alpha project managers lead more successful projects, because they plan and communicate more. How can we train more project managers to be like them? This paper describes a study to measure students’ emotional intelligence in an undergraduate course in IT project management. The course incorporated active learning exercises in interpersonal communication and emotional intelligence. This study is the second in an emerging and multi-stage research effort that started with new curriculum development at one university last year. In this study, we deployed the curriculum intervention in a second university and with a second group of students at the first university. Additionally, a formal measure of soft skills was adopted from the literature for validation in this context before we launch a broader study. This study is intended to provide empirical and theoretical evidence to support pedagogical interventions to help train the next generation of emotionally intelligent alpha project managers

An Agile Framework for Teaching with Scrum in the IT Project Management Classroom

This paper presents a framework for teaching a complete, semester-long IT project management course with traditional PMI-based content (sans software development) while featuring Scrum as the organizing logic for accomplishing coursework. This framework adapts widely-used Scrum practices from industry for use in the classroom, including how to organize student teams, homework, and activities. Organizing an existing course with Scrum is intended to maximize student learning of traditional project management content, as well as the difficult-to-teach, socially-complex, “soft” skills that lead to Scrum team success. This deep integration of Scrum into a traditional, predictive IT project management course goes well beyond single activities or units without crowding out valuable time and material. A brief overview of the agile philosophy and examples of teaching Scrum in the classroom situate this work in the teaching and learning literature. Classroom-tested Scrum rituals and example artifacts are provided to illustrate how to apply the framework. This group-based, iterative, and hands-on approach equips students to better internalize and understand the complex social interactions involved with a self-organizing team, concepts that are difficult to learn without first-hand experience. The proposed framework will help IS educators implement Scrum practices in their own courses, further addressing industry’s increasing demand for IS professionals with Scrum experience

An Analysis of Archival Observations Made of Galactic Supernova Remnants by the Chandra X-ray Observatory

Since its launch in 1999, the Chandra X-ray Observatory has spurred explosive growth in the study of Galactic supernova remnants (SNRs) due to its unsurpassed angular resolution (1 arcsecond at 1 keV) and its moderate sensitivity. We are currently analyzing archival observations made by Chandra of two particular classes of SNRs: mixed-morphology SNRs (which feature contrasting center-filled thermal X-ray morphologies with shell-like radio morphologies) and synchrotron X-ray SNRs (which feature X-ray spectra dominated by synchrotron emission). To illustrate some of our initial results, we present spatially resolved spectroscopic analyses of the mixed-morphology SNR 3C 397 and the synchrotron X-ray dominated SNR G353.6-0.7. In the former case, we have fit extracted spectra with a recombination-dominated thermal plasma model to determine the ionization state of the plasma associated with this SNR. In the latter case, we have fit extracted spectra with synchrotron models to determine the maximum energies of cosmic-ray electrons accelerated by the SNR

Enterprise Information Systems Capability and GHG Pollution Emissions Reductions

This paper adds to IT sustainability literature by empirically examining the degree to which enterprise information systems capability impacts organizational greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). We accomplish this by analyzing a unique data set combining surveys of corporate IT, GHG emissions and environmental practices with other secondary sources that contain financial and environmental metrics. We find that high levels of Enterprise Support IS Capability combined with the adoption of firm GHG pollution reduction targets help to reduce firm GHG emissions. On the other hand, the adoption of reduction targets in less IS-capable firms is associated with higher emissions. Our research highlights the role of information technology in firm sustainability programs and the value of information to pollution reduction

Teaching Tip: Socio-Cultural Learning to Increase Student Engagement in Introduction to MIS

Introduction to Management Information Systems (MIS) is a challenging course to teach because of the broad expanse of rapidly-changing material, the centrality of the course to the business curriculum, students’ demand for interactive teaching rather than traditional lecture, and general student disinterest in or lack of familiarity with the subject. Further compounding these problems, faculty may not be adequately comfortable with or trained in active teaching modalities. To address these challenges, we used principles of socio-cultural learning to design a system of class activities to teach the dynamic concepts commonly found in the Introduction to MIS course. Faculty can adapt and customize this system to suit almost any teaching style without significant preparation. Capitalizing on students’ own experiences, we provide ad hoc activities that encourage students to work outside their comfort zone, to communicate and challenge material, to value their own expertise, and to gain confidence working independently. This paper specifically answers the call for more research explaining the “how” of teaching rather than the “what” and will prove useful and immediately actionable for novice and seasoned faculty alike

Socio-Cultural Learning to Increase Student Engagement in Introduction to MIS

Introduction to Management Information Systems (MIS) is a challenging course to teach because of the broad expanse of rapidlychanging material, the centrality of the course to the business curriculum, students’ demand for interactive teaching rather than traditional lecture, and general student disinterest in or lack of familiarity with the subject. Further compounding these problems, faculty may not be adequately comfortable with or trained in active teaching modalities. To address these challenges, we used principles of socio-cultural learning to design a system of class activities to teach the dynamic concepts commonly found in the Introduction to MIS course. Faculty can adapt and customize this system to suit almost any teaching style without significant preparation. Capitalizing on students’ own experiences, we provide ad hoc activities that encourage students to work outside their comfort zone, to communicate and challenge material, to value their own expertise, and to gain confidence working independently. This paper specifically answers the call for more research explaining the “how” of teaching rather than the “what” and will prove useful and immediately actionable for novice and seasoned faculty alike

Modelling palliative and end-of-life resource requirements during COVID-19:implications for quality care

OBJECTIVES: The WHO estimates that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to more than 1.3 million deaths (1 377 395) globally (as of November 2020). This surge in death necessitates identification of resource needs and relies on modelling resource and understanding anticipated surges in demand. Our aim was to develop a generic computer model that could estimate resources required for end-of-life (EoL) care delivery during the pandemic. SETTING: A discrete event simulation model was developed and used to estimate resourcing needs for a geographical area in the South West of England. While our analysis focused on the UK setting, the model is flexible to changes in demand and setting. PARTICIPANTS: We used the model to estimate resourcing needs for a population of around 1 million people. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The model predicts the per-day 'staff' and 'stuff' resourcing required to meet a given level of incoming EoL care activity. RESULTS: A mean of 11.97 hours of additional community nurse time, up to 33 hours of care assistant time and up to 30 hours additional care from care assistant night sits will be required per day as a result of out of hospital COVID-19 deaths based on the model prediction. Specialist palliative care demand is predicted to increase up to 19 hours per day. An additional 286 anticipatory medicine bundles per month will be necessary to alleviate physical symptoms at the EoL care for patients with COVID-19: an average additional 10.21 bundles of anticipatory medication per day. An average additional 9.35 syringe pumps could be needed to be in use per day. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis for a large region in the South West of England shows the significant additional physical and human resource required to relieve suffering at the EoL as part of a pandemic response