ChapterPDF Available

Nexus of Advanced Technology Platforms for Strengthening Cyber-Defense Capabilities

Authors:

Abstract

The spectrum of current threat vectors is far more complex now than ever before. The current threat vectors are kinetic, asymmetric, dual-use, and hybrid, which renders it difficult to assess and, even, distinguish from a routine event. The threats not only jeopardize the security posture but also cyber defense capabilities, the very line of defense that is designed to protect against such threats. Countering threat vectors in multiple domains, viz., social, physical, and informational, is a major challenge and requires technology augmentation to assess, act and thwart such persistent and pervasive threats. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), data analytics (DA), and deep learning (DL) provides tools that enhance cyber defense capabilities. In addition, certain initiatives on decision support systems to enhance resiliency, such as heuristics expert elicitations and analysis, and also capacity building through technology accelerator networks are discussed to enhance capacity and capability in support of cyber-defense. The use of technology platforms can present certain challenges, which are described.
... Combining imaging with feature extraction allows satellite imagery to see where things are on Earth in order to provide contextual foundations. However, analyzing, synthesizing, and communicating information in an organized way to develop comprehensive intelligence also requires the use of Artificial intelligence (AI) (Vaseashta, 2022). Algorithm use of AI is revolutionizing GEOINT through the automatic classification and detection of objects from satellite imagery. ...
... However, the efficiency of such modeling efforts is limited by a lack of good quality input data and due to insufficient information on underlying complex physical processes. Hence, Machine learning and Deep Learning methods have evolved to address the issue of multi-dimensional relations efficiently and obtain information from complex datasets (Vaseashta, 2022). Within the context of this review, machine learning applies computational algorithms for classification, prediction, clustering, and pattern recognition in a target data set by transforming, sorting, and splitting the input data set. ...
Chapter
Hydrometeorological events are becoming more intense and are attributed to climate change from anthropogenic activities and long-term natural meteorological cycles. Such events have resulted in record droughts, rain, floods, temperatures, and even seismological activities. Recent studies have revealed that fast-moving droughts are emerging quickly, adding a new challenge to hazards for farmers and water managers. Most climate model projections show a continued precipitation decrease in several regions and a temperature increase of around 1.5 - 4.0°C through 2100. The authors posit that new drought indices can now be calculated, due to the development of satellite imaging and remote sensing approaches. Grid computing offers data-processing capability and the ability to use distributed computing resources to process the spatial data provided by satellite images. Platforms, such as Google Earth Engine, offer a collection of satellite images and the opportunity to implement algorithms to provide geo-spatial analysis. These tools can also be used for flash floods and other extreme events.
... AI offers a dynamic and adaptable layer of security that is superior to traditional models because to its exceptional speed in processing and analyzing large amounts of data. Many cybersecurity systems are built on top of advanced database technology, which are essential for processing, storing, and protecting sensitive data [1], [7], [8]. ...
Article
Full-text available
Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a key force in cybersecurity, including increased threat detection, automated response, and predictive analytics. However, as AI becomes more incorporated into cybersecurity systems, the ethical implications of its use must be carefully evaluated. Business analysts, who have historicsally served as liaisons between business stakeholders and technical teams, play an important role in ensuring that AI systems are implemented ethically within cybersecurity standards. This review examined the roles of business analysts in AI-powered cybersecurity governance, with an emphasis on assuring ethical AI deployment, legal compliance, and alignment with company values. Existing credible journals and materials were explored and investigated. Findings revealed that the roles that business analysts have to play in the deployment of ethical AI were critical. These included recognizing any ethical concerns connected to AI systems, creating plans to reduce these risks, and making sure rules and ethical standards are followed. Business analysts can also assist in bringing AI solutions into line with corporate principles and social norms by fostering stakeholder communication, which will advance accountability, transparency, and justice.
... Furthermore, the concept of autonomous security is redefining the cybersecurity paradigm for modern data centers . By automating routine tasks and enabling selfhealing capabilities, AI-driven security systems reduce the dependency on human intervention and enhance resilience against evolving threats (Gupta, 2022;Vaseashta, 2022). These systems can dynamically adjust security policies, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance without manual oversight, marking a significant departure from traditional reactive approaches. ...
Article
Full-text available
The dynamic evolution of next-generation data centers, driven by cloud-native and hybrid architectures, has necessitated a paradigm shift in cybersecurity. Traditional security models, designed for static and on-premise environments, struggle to address the complexities of cloud-connected infrastructures and the rapidly evolving threat landscape. Emerging challenges, such as advanced persistent threats (APTs), ransomware, and insider attacks, demand sophisticated and adaptive security solutions. In this context, artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a transformative technology capable of redefining threat detection and response mechanisms. This review explores the conceptualization of AI-driven security for next-generation data centers, focusing on autonomous threat detection and response. By leveraging AI and machine learning (ML), security systems can achieve real-time anomaly detection, advanced behavior analysis, and predictive risk assessment. These capabilities enhance the accuracy and speed of identifying malicious activities while reducing false positives. Additionally, autonomous response mechanisms, such as self-healing networks and adaptive security policies, enable rapid containment and mitigation of threats, minimizing potential damages. The review also discusses the integration of AI with existing Security Operations Centers (SOCs), highlighting its potential to augment human decision-making and automate repetitive tasks. Furthermore, it examines the role of advanced encryption, identity management, and compliance tools in fortifying security frameworks. Future trends, including the impact of 5G and edge computing, are explored, emphasizing their implications for real-time applications and IoT security. This study underscores the importance of proactive, AI-driven strategies in securing next-generation data centers, ensuring scalability, resilience, and robust protection in an increasingly interconnected digital landscape. By bridging the gap between cloud-native and on-premise environments, AI-powered security frameworks offer a promising path toward achieving autonomous, adaptive, and future-proof cybersecurity.
... Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the world around us and produced capabilities that have led to a wide range of innovations [280,281]. Complex algorithms and systems have evolved using logic rules and reasoning algorithms that mimic human thought processes. The introduction of decision-support tools provided the capability of complex and hierarchical reasoning but, unlike humans, they could not learn new rules to evolve and expand their decision-making capability. ...
Article
Full-text available
The emergence of novel pathogens is a well-known epidemiological risk, however, the unexpected emergence of a truly novel coronavirus-mediated pandemic, SARS-nCOV2 (COVID-19), underscored the significance of understanding this contagion. The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented social, economic, and educational disruptions on a scale never seen before. In addition to social protocols, the development of safe, effective, affordable COVID-19 vaccines was developed within months, the cornerstone to mitigating this pandemic. We present an overview of the evolution of the SARS-nCOV2 pandemic from a historical perspective and describe its biology and behavior, especially the immunological aspects of the disease. We further provide an overview of COVID-19 therapeutics, treatment, and vaccine development. It is critical to understand the transmission mechanism of the disease to control and mitigate its progression. We describe cohort studies to identify secondary and tertiary syndromes. The transmission characteristics help its diagnosis and detection. During the pandemic, a lot of emphasis was placed on personal protection equipment. It is now concluded that the virus particles spread by aerosol dispersion. While the recommended distance may not be sufficient, the use of personal protective equipment and social distancing may be helpful in close-quarters environments. Such protocols in conjunction with safe and effective vaccines and personal hygiene are among the safe practices. While we learn from our experience, this review provides a holistic view of COVID-19, so we are better prepared for a future pandemic. In addition to a wide-spectrum automated analytics system, we also suggest that the use of artificial intelligence in conjunction with data analytics can further reduces the risk of speculatively diagnosing agents incorrectly, to eliminate future pandemic, where the novelty can be the cloud-based presumptive diagnosis.
Article
Full-text available
The emergence of novel pathogens is a well-known epidemiological risk; however, the unexpected emergence of a truly novel coronavirus-mediated pandemic due to SARS-CoV-2 under-scored the significance of understanding this contagion. The pandemic, due to novel coronavirus, termed COVID-19, caused unprecedented social, economic, and educational disruptions on a scale never seen before. In addition to social protocols, safe, effective, and affordable vaccines were de-veloped within months, the cornerstone of the mitigation of this pandemic. We present an overview of the evolution of the pandemic from a historical perspective and describe its biology and behavior, especially the immunological aspects of the disease. We further provide an overview of therapeutics, treatment, and vaccine development to mitigate SARS-CoV-2. It is critical to understand the trans-mission mechanism of the disease to control and mitigate its progression. We describe cohort studies to identify secondary and tertiary syndromes. The transmission characteristics help its diagnosis and detection. During the pandemic, a lot of emphasis was placed on personal protection equip-ment. It is now concluded that the virus particles are spread by aerosol dispersion. While the rec-ommended distance may not have been sufficient, the use of personal protective equipment and social distancing was helpful in close-quarters environments. Such protocols, in conjunction with safe and effective vaccines and personal hygiene, are among the safe practices. While we learn from our experience, this review provides a holistic overview of the pandemic and encapsulates the event in a historical context. In doing so, we hope to understand the SARS-CoV-2 virus and take sufficient precautionary measures to mitigate consequences during any subsequent similar pandemics. In ad-dition to a wide-spectrum automated analytics system introduced by the authors earlier, we pro-pose the use of artificial intelligence in conjunction with data analytics to minimize the risk of spec-ulatively diagnosing agents incorrectly by employing a novel concept of cloud-based presumptive diagnosis.
Chapter
The world has seen many pandemics; however, COVID-19 provoked global emergencies at an unprecedented scale in all aspects of life. Despite of recent advances in learning management systems and online education tools, one of the worst disruptions experienced was in the delivery of education. To keep students safe, most educational institutions were closed at the onset of the pandemic. At the peak of the crisis, ~90% of learners worldwide had their education disrupted. The policies were based on social distancing and the use of personal protection. However, the negative impacts of long-term isolation were not articulated. It is likely that there may be similar emergencies in the future. How can we use exponential technologies and innovations for the effective delivery of education? Guided by the lessons learned from the impact of school closures, assessment of remote learning, and the fact that education delivery should be continuous, we explore how different research perspectives and evidence gathered can help strengthen policy reflections and future planning for improving efficiency.
Article
Full-text available
Purpose – Strategic decision-making is a complex process and encompasses an exhaustive knowledge base, collective guidance, contemporary foresight, analytical capabilities, paradigmatic congruence, and risk assessment and optimization within mission space. Employing advanced sciences convergence and analytical methodologies, the aim of this report is to provide a set of plausible solution trajectories to complex scenarios. Design/methodology/approach – Three methodologies are reported here which provide policymakers with plausible solution pathways and alternatives. The methodologies, namely: TechFARM, ADAMS, and NESTTS, involve convergence of scientific disciplines, cutting edge technologies, social dynamics, astute extraction, and principles of foresight to support the process of informed decision-making, as comprehensive tools to develop a plausible solution space and future trends. Findings – The methodologies provided in this report provide scientific basis to trends analysis and foresight. Few selected examples are reported here indicating its practical implications. The methodologies are currently applied to and likely to be used for many applications in trends analysis for government, industry, and even academics. These applications are particularly relevant to policy-making due to their capacity for identification of emerging trends. Originality/value – Being highly adaptable, these methodologies were initially generated for defense applications, but have since been applied to clean water, cyber-security, the medical sector, and environmental health and safety (EHS) and evaluating eco-toxicity of nanomaterials, to strategically address a variety of global challenges. Additionally, these methodologies support investment recommendations and implementation of policies that promise significant benefit to the public at large.
Article
Gender equality plays a pivotal role in combating terrorism and violent extremist in the global arena. This chapter provides a brief overview of evolution, definition and overall goals of gender mainstreaming and analysis as a tool for understanding the unique needs of men and women to achieve gender equality at the institutional level by developing policies, implementing programs and reviewing security implications. Since the 21st-century battlefield is complex, kinetic and multi-dimensional, it requires a multi-disciplinary approach to find solutions to such issues. Using technological platforms, it is possible to supplement means to understand, foresight and address such complex dynamics. A focus on the duality of information technology and its interplay with social media for recruitment, preventing the spread of misinformation and even intercepting channels of communication, plays a vital role in combating terrorism and violent extremism. From a policy standpoint, offering education and training and providing easy access to information platforms along with other similar initiatives, will assist in gender equality and in development policies, programs and strategies.
Chapter
In the new and transformative era, our surrounding environments are increasingly connected through exponential growth of cyber-physical systems and interactive intelligent technologies. One such example is technological innovations in Unmanned Aerial Surveillance Platforms, also known as drone, for applications such as surveillance, real-time monitoring, emergency augmentation for actionable response, security and enabler of connected communities to bring about new levels of opportunity and growth, safety and security, health and wellness, thus improving the overall quality of life. Based on our previous experiences, we present a modality of smart and connected sensors platforms that have a great potential to provide enhanced situational awareness for safety and security. The objective of this investigation is to develop a mobile Unmanned Aerial Surveillance Platform (UASP) capable of monitoring in real-time, capture, synthesize and analyze the information and communicate with ground-based systems for actionable response. Several commercial off the shelf (COTS) instruments such as hyperspectral imagers, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Biometrics Facial Recognitions systems are discussed along with some innovative platforms that are still in experimental stage and can potentially serve as payload to the UAV sensor platforms. The new system under development has an airborne component to capture relevant information from a Domain of Interest (DOI). This paper summarizes the capabilities of UASP along with several potential applications and potential risk scenarios of such smart and connected by internet of everything (IOET) systems. Keywords – CBRN, Cyber-physical systems, decision support tools, stand-off detection, UAVs, Connected systems, Safety, Security, Monitoring, Critical Infrastructure, Situational Awareness, Internet of Everything
Article
Setting priorities in a complex defence environment requires technology assessment, data driven decision support tools, foresight, and roadmapping the future pathways. There are several procedures to deliver a balanced, yet strategic assessment. This report posits roadmapping of revolutionary scientific breakthroughs based on advanced sciences convergence (ASC) in multidisciplinary environments and data analytics platforms. Innovations lead to mapping technology roadmaps which are cautiously formulated based on extensive research, expert elicitation and networking approaches to project “future scenarios” realistically and epistemologically. Such roadmaps enable the development of transformative tools and methodologies that fill fundamental knowledge gaps. Synergy arising from converging technologies and research methodologies will leverage emerging and potentially transformative studies. A “framework by design” of emerging scientific and technological advances and trends is developed through a systematic and strategic planning process to deepen the understanding of current, future, and varying challenges and opportunities and create fully integrated solution pathways to address current and future global issues. Through a systematic introduction of ASC, the methodology exploits future-oriented analytical methodologies, including heuristics, data-mining, scientometrics, modelling and simulation, and scenario development to provide solutions and their potential for integrated, novel and unconventional manifestations. Keywords - Data analytics Convergence Roadmap Defence Security
Chapter
I propose to consider the question, “Can machines think?”♣ This should begin with definitions of the meaning of the terms “machine” and “think”. The definitions might be framed so as to reflect so far as possible the normal use of the words, but this attitude is dangerous. If the meaning of the words “machine” and “think” are to be found by examining how they are commonly used it is difficult to escape the conclusion that the meaning and the answer to the question, “Can machines think?” is to be sought in a statistical survey such as a Gallup poll.
Applying Resilience to Hybrid Threats: Integrating Infrastructural, Digital, and Social Systems
  • H Thorrison
  • F Baiardi
  • F Angeler
  • K Teveter
  • A Vaseashta
  • P Rowe
  • W Piotrowicz
  • T Polmateer
  • J Lambert
Thorrison, H., Baiardi, F., Angeler, F., Teveter, K., Vaseashta, A., Rowe, P., Piotrowicz, W., Polmateer, T., Lambert, J., Applying Resilience to Hybrid Threats: Integrating Infrastructural, Digital, and Social Systems. In, Resilience and Hybrid Threats -Security and Integrity for the Digital World, 2020. Vol. 55, pp.1-12 NATO Science for Peace and Security Series -D: Information and Communication Security, http://doi.org/10.3233/NICSP190017
Conference: Functional Nanostructures and Sensors for CBRN Defence and Environmental Safety and Security
  • A Vaseashta
Vaseashta, A., CBRNE -Threat vectors, dual-use Concerns and Countermeasures, 2018. Conference: Functional Nanostructures and Sensors for CBRN Defence and Environmental Safety and Security "FNS-CBRN Defence -Rome, Italy.
The Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and Simulation of Behavior
  • J Mccarthy
McCarthy, J., The Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and Simulation of Behavior, "What is Artificial Intelligence." 1956. (Revised in 2007 and available at: http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/)
Resilience metrics: Lessons from Military doctrines. Solutions -for a sustainable desirable future
  • D A Eisenberg
  • I Linkov
  • J Park
  • M E Bates
  • C Fox-Lent
  • T P Seager
Eisenberg, D.A., Linkov, I., Park, J., Bates, M.E., Fox-Lent, C., Seager, T.P., Resilience metrics: Lessons from Military doctrines. Solutions -for a sustainable desirable future, 2014, Vol.5(5) pp. 76-87.