Cybersecurity and Government

Minitrack description

The cybersecurity aspects of government and critical infrastructures have become a hot topic for countries all across the globe. Information Technology has become pervasive in all aspects of our lives. This minitrack examines aspects associated with the security of information technology used by governments and critical infrastructures (with an emphasis on automated control systems) and explores ways that IT can enhance the ability of governments to ensure the safety and security of its citizens. Of special interest are systems such as industrial control systems, SCADA, and process control networks which control infrastructures that include electricity (Smartgrid), pipelines, chemical plants, manufacturing, traffic control, and more.

Governments have also embraced IT to interface with citizens in a more efficient manner. Security issues have risen to the forefront as a result of data disclosures and identity theft incidents discussed in mainstream media. Other issues include intellectual property theft and criminal acts involving computers. Recently, the issue of cybersecurity information sharing has also risen in importance and much has been written and debated on this subject.

This mintrack explores research into pressing issues surrounding the intersection of cybersecurity and government spheres of influence. Whether technical or policy, from information sharing to new analytical methods of detection of insider threats, this minitrack casts a wide net to bring cross disciplinary thinking to problems with far-reaching implications.

This is a wide focus minitrack; if your research involves security associated with IT or OT, and has a government component, then this is its home.

Minitrack topics include, but are not limited to:

• Systems for governments to respond to security events
• Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP)
• Cyber physical systems security
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and control systems
• Information assurance and trusted computing
• Information sharing
• Information security economics
• Information warfare
• Incident response
• New threats, including insider and nation states
• Digital forensics
• Privacy and freedom of information
• Security management
• Laws and regulation of IT security
• Security of electronic voting
• Security concerns of new technologies
• Cybersecurity in government disaster recovery and business continuity
• Case reports related to security experiences within government

More information on the minitrack chairs:

Gregory B. White, Ph.D., is the Director of the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security at The University of Texas at San Antonio. He has been involved in computer security for over 20 years and has published extensively on the subject. His research interests currently include community cyber security, security visualization, mini-botnet detection and eradication, and critical infrastructure protection. He is the creator of the Community Cyber Security Maturity Model (CCSMM) and is also involved in security competitions at both the collegiate and high school levels.

Wm. Arthur Conklin, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Information Security Research and Education in the College of Technology at the University of Houston. He holds two terminal degrees, a Ph.D. in Business Administration (specializing in Information Security), from The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and the degree Electrical Engineer (specializing in Space Systems Engineering) from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. He holds a variety of security certifications including Security+, CISSP, CSSLP, CSDP, CRISC, DFCP, IAM and IEM. His research interests include the use of systems theory to explore information security, specifically in Cyber Physical Systems. He has co-authored six security books and numerous academic articles associated with information security. Currently he is working on Smart Grid grants from DOE in the area of workforce development and training. He has an extensive background in secure coding and is a co-chair of the DHS/DoD Software Assurance Forum working group for workforce education, training and development. He is active in the DHS sponsored Industrial Control Systems Joint Working Group (ICSJWG) efforts associated with workforce development and cybersecurity aspects of industrial control systems. A senior member of several professional societies including ISSA, IEEE, ISACA and is a Fellow of National Board of Information Security Examiners.

Keith B. Harrison earned a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Harrison's doctoral dissertation was on the scalable detection of community cyber incidents utilizing distributed and anonymous security information sharing. His research interests include community cybersecurity, information sharing, cryptography, peer-to-peer networks, honeynets, virtualization, and visualization. He also assists with the operation of the Standards Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (ISAO) Standards Organization. In addition to his research activities, Dr. Harrison is also the lead software architect of the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC) Scoring Engine, and the CyberPatriot Competition System (CCS) Scoring Engine. He also enjoys assisting in the operation of the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (NCCDC), Panoply King of the Hill Competition, and the CyberPatriot National High School Cyber Defense Competition.

Statement

The University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Houston endorse our involvement and will pay for our travel and registration cost to attend HICSS.