AsianScientist (Feb. 9, 2017) – Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) have embarked on a joint research project called the Bio-Inspired Agile Cyber Security Assurance Framework (BICSAF) to develop innovative technologies for tackling advanced persistent threats (APTs).
APTs are stealthy and continuous computer hacking processes targeting specific entities, such as private organizations and state agencies. Their long periods of covertness make them difficult to detect with current technology.
NTU Chief of Staff and Vice-President (Research) Professor Lam Khin Yong and BGU Vice-President and Dean (Research & Development) Professor Dan Blumberg signed the joint research agreement at the CyberTech Conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Tuesday, 31 January 2017 (Wednesday, 1 February, Singapore time). Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the event’s guest-of-honor.
The project will have S$3 million (~US$2.12 million) in joint funding from NTU, BGU and the National Research Foundation (NRF), Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore. Led by the Cyber Security Research Centre at NTU, faculty and researchers from both universities will be involved.
“BGU and NTU recognize the grave necessity of stopping Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), which are some of the hardest cyber attacks to detect, and have allocated significant funding over two years to develop early detection methods,” said Blumberg.
The Department of Software and Information Systems Engineering at BGU is the largest in Israel, with significant resources in cyber security research. BGU also set up the Cyber Security Research Centre with the Israel National Cyber Bureau to identify risks while protecting critical national infrastructure.
Mr. George Loh, Director (Programs) of NRF and Co-Chair of the National Cybersecurity R&D Program Committee, said, “Singapore has established a holistic national cybersecurity strategy that will support our Smart Nation vision and enhance Singapore’s standing as a trusted digital hub.
“The collaboration between NTU and BGU will explore novel ideas to develop cyber-immune technologies to fight external adversaries that launch cyber-attacks on our critical systems, much like how our biological immune system works.”
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Source: Nanyang Technological University; Photo: Shutterstock.
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