Challenges and Opportunities in Cyber Security Innovation

Challenges and Opportunities in Cyber Security Innovation Fall, 2011 Paul Barford Qualys Inc. and University of Wisconsin

Internet Cambrian explosion • Internet threat landscape exploded in ‘01 • Virus, DoS, worms, bots • We’re in a time of evolving cyberecosystems • Highly complex, dynamic and diverse • Expanding challenges and opportunities • Addressing threats requires innovation • Step functions vs. increments • We’ve not seen much in the security domain lately… pb@cs.wisc.edu

Challenge: tech vs. innovation • What is the “next big thing”? • Threats: many possibilities • Counter measures: new architectures • Where will the “next big thing” come from? • Companies typically develop technology • gov/mil are fairly dark and highly diverse • Academia needs better processes • Entrepreneurs are the innovators pb@cs.wisc.edu

Challenge: antiquated edu • Processes in academia can stifle innovation • Tenure is a conundrum • Unenlightened IP management • Incubation support is … incubating • It’s not just about physical space or $$ • The Utah example • Why isn’t entrepreneurship taught in CS? • Gates, Page/Brin, etc. were not B-school grads • Young people areoftenignored pb@cs.wisc.edu

Challenge: bridging the gap • Standard start-up issues • Business plan, funding, hiring, execution, etc. • Complexities and privacy concerns of security operations • Highly sensitive nature of sec ops limit feedback • Regulations • SOX, PCI, international, etc. • Moving targets • New threats change perception of value pb@cs.wisc.edu

Challenge: metrics • How do we assess the impact of something innovative in the security space? • No analog of FLOPS or bps • Security is good when nothing happens • Sends wrong message • Changing the conversation • Being proactive • Being robust • Value add for products pb@cs.wisc.edu

Challenge: deployment • Hardware is pretty much out • “You want to deploy IN LINE!?!” • Easy integration is essential • Complex architectures • Home grown solutions • Privacy concerns • Ad hoc evaluation methods and tools • Related to metrics • Everyone is busy pb@cs.wisc.edu

Chall-atunity: O vs. D • Standard focus of cyber security is defense • Threats determine policies, processes, systems • Robust but fragile • Offense (attacker) always has the advantage • Only one entry point is required • Humans are in the loop • Offense can clearly have an impact • Stuxnet is a game changer • Offense is clearly controversial! pb@cs.wisc.edu

Opportunity: data*/service • Many security systems and processes depend on different types of data • Aggregates • Signatures • S,S,SaaS via the cloud • Simplifies deployment • Lowers costs • Changes playing field • But, risks are difficult to assess pb@cs.wisc.edu

Opportunity: secure software • Software system vulnerabilities will be with us forever • System complexity • Humans in the loop • Secure software development methods • Requires careful consideration of threats • Software testing methods, tools, processes • Fast, accurate identification of a myriad of bugs • However, humans are in the loop… pb@cs.wisc.edu

Opportunity: education • Educate “consumers” on best practices • Private users • Simple things can make all the difference • Developers • Evolving threats make this an on-going challenge • Public/enterprise/SMB • How to assess risk & make good decisions on security • Educate policy makers on security landscape • Regulation must be considered VERY carefully • Educate the next generation of innovators • These resources must be fostered carefully pb@cs.wisc.edu

Opportunity: partnerships • Public + private > {public, private} • Sharing perspectives is a good starting point • Trusted relationships enable sound decisions and effective use of technology • Bring academia to the table (gov/com/edu) • Unfettered perspective • Neutral third party • Foster consistent evaluation for innovative technologies • National Cyber Security Assessment Center pb@cs.wisc.edu

Opportunity: innovation • Situational awareness • Unifying theme for sec ops • Embrace cloud-mobile environment • Solutions for the cloud and from the cloud • Policy, regulation and enforcement • Important part of ecosystem • Facilitate via gov/com/edu partnerships • Change the playing field • Group-centric security pb@cs.wisc.edu

Conclusions • Dynamic and diverse threat landscape • Obviates incremental solutions • Necessitates innovation • Challenges abound • Entrenchment based on unknown risks • Opportunities abound • Data centric innovation • Software security • Partnerships • Changing the playing field pb@cs.wisc.edu

Challenges and Opportunities in Cyber Security Innovation