Dynamic Security Hardening for Avionic Functions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Embedded avionic systems face challenges in resource management due to limited computing resources, and existing security countermeasures are not optimized for real-time security events, which are difficult to report and require automation for effective response.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for dynamic security hardening of selected aircraft functions involving real-time monitoring, probabilistic inference of attack location and progression using attack trees, and activation of specific countermeasures, leveraging a dynamic security hardening engine with a monitor agent, inference engine, and decision engine to apply avionics-specific countermeasures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If security countermeasures are applied always on, then security protection is improved, but computing resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts security countermeasures based on real-time security event analysis. The security hardening engine monitors security events, infers attack progression, and activates or deactivates countermeasures accordingly, transitioning from static always-on security to dynamic context-aware security that adapts to actual threat conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state of security countermeasures based on inferred attack parameters. When attacks are detected, the system modifies security settings (e.g., enabling restricted access, blocking communications) and reverses these changes when threats are neutralized, optimizing resource usage based on actual security needs rather than fixed policies.
2Reliability
If security countermeasures are applied at all times, then security coverage is improved, but system performance is degraded due to resource consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic security hardening where countermeasures are activated only when security events indicate an active attack. The security hardening engine continuously monitors security events, infers attack progression, and selectively applies countermeasures, thereby maintaining security coverage while improving system performance by avoiding unnecessary resource consumption during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects security events, infers attack progression, and applies appropriate countermeasures without requiring manual intervention. The security hardening engine self-manages security posture adjustments, making intelligent decisions about when to activate or deactivate countermeasures based on real-time security conditions.
3Ease of operation
If automated security response is implemented, then operator burden is reduced, but system complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The security hardening engine automatically monitors security events, infers attack progression, and applies countermeasures without operator intervention. This automation reduces operator burden by handling security responses autonomously, though it does increase system complexity through the addition of monitoring, inference, and decision-making components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where security events are monitored, attack progression is inferred, countermeasures are applied, and the results are evaluated. This feedback mechanism enables automated security response while providing transparency into system actions, helping manage complexity through structured decision-making processes.
4Reliability
If real-time security monitoring is implemented, then security response capability is improved, but computing resource consumption is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies security monitoring and countermeasures locally to specific aircraft functions rather than uniformly across the entire system. The security hardening engine identifies which functions are under attack and applies targeted countermeasures only to those functions, reducing overall computing resource consumption while maintaining effective security response capability where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing dynamic security hardening of selected aircraft functions includes: a) monitoring sequences of real-time security events for at least one aircraft function; b) accessing a database storing a plurality of sequences of attack events indicative of an attack of the at least one aircraft function; c) probabilistically inferring, by at least one processor, the location and progression of an attack represented within the database by utilizing the sequences of real-time security events; and d) activating at least one countermeasure in response to an inferred location and progression of an attack.