A MODEL FOR INTELLIGENT PROTECTION OF CRITICAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS

Abstract

We propose a unified model for the enforcement of safety and security of cyber-physical systems in critical applications. We argue that the need for resilience of a critical system requires simultaneous protection from hazards (safety) and from unauthorized access (security). We review how the critical system properties are handled and present a framework for their modeling. Then we present a model for the enforcement of critical system properties through situational awareness, including threat monitoring, data analysis and state prediction for decision making. We conclude by presenting a case study of a power grid simulation and advocate the ability to move from today’s reactive approaches to proactive ones that aim at avoiding system failures.