Computer Network May Become Its Own Security Force

Researchers propose a new adaptive cybersecurity strategy modeled on the moving-target military concept.

According to a Kansas State University press release, cybersecurity experts Scott DeLoach and Xinming Ou are researching a moving-target strategy that would enable computer networks to protect themselves against attackers by automatic and random changes in their setup and configuration. The team focusing on this project also includes two Chinese doctoral candidates, Rui Zhuang and Su Zhang, as well as Alexandru Bardas, a Romanian doctoral student in computing and information sciences.

While this type of adaptive cybersecurity strategy would provide outstanding benefits, the costs and, ultimately, the efficiency of its implementation are still to be determined. The concept of moving-target defense first surfaced in the Internet security domain in 2008. Very simply put, it consists of creating the appearance of chaotic changes in the network to baffle attackers and undermine their network vulnerability-scouting efforts.

If proven feasible, the moving target defense system would be a real breakthrough in network security as it would give network administrators the upper hand in their perpetual battle with hackers.