Dependability and Survivability of Large Complex Critical Infrastructures

This paper refers to research activities related to SAFEGUARD project (IST Project Number: IST-2001-32685). The aims of the project is to examine LCCI’s in terms of nature of different facets in each infrastructure: organizational, computational (cyber) and physical layers. Critical inter-dependencies among layers can thus be analyzed. Possible impact of bad events, early classified in attack scenarios with and without SAFEGUARD, will be coped with countermeasures to maintain at acceptable level system’s operability. SAFEGUARD, an agent-based middleware, is conceived to operate embedded inside of the cyber-layers, the more sensitive part to malicious attacks and anomalies, and is designed to enhance dependability and survivability of a LCCI. Self-healing mechanism of SAFEGUARD agents will start with the trouble diagnosis and classification using Hybrid Intrusion Detection techniques (software instrumentation, novelty detection, etc.). Once the problem has been diagnosed, a number of techniques will be used to solve and repair the fault (i.e.: adaptive middleware technology, backup, hot standby and so on). More self-healing mechanisms will have to be combined and coordinated to with an attempt to deal with the source of the problem.