Cyber Security

In today’s computing environment, it is essential to assure that networks are protected against the increasing frequency of malicious viruses, worms, hackers, and other types of attack. To integrate several ongoing cyber security research programs, Argonne’s Decision and Information Sciences Division established the Network Analysis and Cyber Security Lab. The Lab provides the infrastructure, tools, and expertise for network analysis and security to support federal agencies, military sponsors, and commercial organizations in their network design and operations.

Screenshot of the PROTECT software

The expertise of the lab and its staff are demonstrated by the success of the following capabilities, along with examples of projects:

• Network analysis—examined networks for traffic analysis, performance, and architecture validation
• Sensor integration networks—integrated distributed chemical-biological sensor systems in secured networks to provide warnings in subway systems, at national events, and for urban monitoring
• Large-scale data mining for security applications—determined the origins of inquiries, patterns of access, and general data discovery from tracked information obtained during data mining of Web logs and security audit logs
• Networks for scientific data acquisition—designed and implemented a large-scale network for the Atmospheric Radiation Program
• Globus security for database access—developed a unique approach for implementing end-to-end security for database access by eliminating the need for security controls at the middleware layer and providing security directly from the client to the database on a Globus network
• Vulnerability assessments and penetration testing—helped conduct these assessments and “white hat” penetration of government and energy-related industrial systems

The staff at the Network Analysis and Cyber Security Lab has extensive experience in conducting certification and accreditation assessments of systems, including preparing systems documentation and performing testing on these systems. Their expertise extends to the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA) and A-123 assessments, which require testing of information technology security controls. The lab is currently developing tools to assist in collecting and organizing the massive amounts of data required for these assessments. Learn more about network analysis and cyber security.

For more information, contact:
Craig Swietlik
Information Sciences Group
Decision and Information Sciences Division
Argonne National Laboratory
9700 South Cass Ave., Bldg. 900
Argonne, IL 60439
Phone: 630-252-8912
Fax: 630-252-5128
E-mail Craig Swietlik