SAIAL Lab

Security Analysis and Information Assurance Laboratory
(SAIAL)


Dr. Bhavani Thuraisingham Professor, Department of Computer Science Director, CyberSecurity and Emergency Preparedness Institute	Dr. E. Douglas Harris Associate Dean, Engineering and Computer Science Executive Director , CyberSecurity and Emergency Preparedness Institute

Background:

1999 - Developed the telecommunications industry international TL 9000 Measurements Repository System (MRS) for the QuEST Forum. (~$3M over the past 5 years).

2000 - Developed E-Plan, a unique, highly available and secure, web-based, Emergency Response "Information System" for the EPA (~$3M over the past 4 years)

More than 20 Jonsson School faculty members are engaged in a comprehensive research effort to develop methods utilizing computer hardware and software to create highly secure and attack-resilient network systems.

The Security Analysis and Information Assurance Laboratory (SAIAL) gives UTD the ability to conduct cyber security research and will greatly enhance our ability to collaborate with other universities and corporations doing leading-edge research in this critically important area.

Research Area:

Network Security
- Secure wireless and sensor networks
Systems and Language Security
- Embedded systems security, Buffer overflow defense
Data and Applications Security
- Secure web services, Semantic Grids, Privacy
Intrusion Detection
- Data mining techniques for intrusion detection
Security Theory and Protocols
- Secure group communication
Security Engineering
- Secure component-based software
Cross Cutting Themes
- Vulnerability analysis, Access control
Secure Data Sharing Across Coalitions
- Organizations share data and yet maintain theory autonomy and enforce policies
National Security and Privacy
- Privacy Preserving data mining and surveilance techniques
Dependable Semantic Webs
- Next generation web technologies with security and trust management
Secure Geospatial/Multimedia Information Systems
- Authorization Models for Image and Video systems

Lab Features:

Simulations and testing to identify security vulnerabilities of multi-vendor information systems and networks
Benchmarking and quantifying security vulnerabilities utilizing:

Customized and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software analysis tools
"White hat" hacking techniques to advance the use of customized and COTS software analysis tools
Repositiory of known and suspected vulnerabilities and powerful analysis techniques for vulnerability assessment including viruses, worms, etc.

Partnerships

Corporate Partnerships
- Form corporate alliances to test and improve commercial hardware and software applicatons that can enhance cyber security product effecitiveness
University partnerships
- Form university research alliances to test and publish critical cyber security research findings that will enhance overall cyber security knowledge
National and State Agency Partnerships
- Work with national and state agencies to identify sources of grant funding for research and identify cutting edge technology and cyber security products