The protection of sensitive data and technologies is critical in preserving United States (U.S.) national security and minimizing economic losses. However, during a cyber attack, the operational capability to constrain the exfiltrations of sensitive data and technologies may not be available. A cyber preparedness methodology (CPM) can improve operational capability and cyber security. The CPM enables a corporation to (a) characterize cyber threats; (b) determine the level of preparedness necessary to ensure mission success; (c) facilitate strategic planning for cyber security (CS); and (d) establish priorities for CS investment planning and management decisions. The cyber preparedness framework (CPF) underlies the CPM. A corporation's leadership articulates its fundamental approach to risk management (RM) and mission assurance, and determines its target level of preparedness. Typically, corporations utilize the CPF to (a) characterize the caliber of the threat; (b) assess the technical and operational capabilities to counter the threat; and (c) develop the governance and processes necessary to achieve its cyber preparedness level. The problem that was investigated in this case study was how to construct a CPF for Lockheed Martin (LM) that works in conjunction with a risk management process (RMP). The goal was to extend the CPF into an RMP to construct a risk management framework (RMF) paradigm that can aid similarly large-sized private sector U.S. Government (USG) contractors in implementing the CPM. In this investigation, the author identified the corporate (a) security categorization, (b) cyber threats, (c) cyber threat level, (d) cyber preparedness level, (e) capabilities the corporation should utilize to counter cyber threats, and (f) governance and processes necessary to achieve the cyber preparedness level for a large-sized private sector USG contractor. The results of this investigation were organized in terms of RMP phases. Based on the results, the author constructed an RMF paradigm that can aid similarly large-sized USG contractors in implementing a CPM.

abstract: Cyber-systems and networks are the target of different types of cyber-threats and attacks, which are becoming more common, sophisticated, and damaging. Those attacks can vary in the way they are performed. However, there are similar strategies and tactics often used because they are time-proven to be effective. The motivations behind cyber-attacks play an important role in designating how attackers plan and proceed to achieve their goals. Generally, there are three categories of motivation are: political, economical, and socio-cultural motivations. These indicate that to defend against possible attacks in an enterprise environment, it is necessary to consider what makes such an enterprise environment a target. That said, we can understand what threats to consider and how to deploy the right defense system. In other words, detecting an attack depends on the defenders having a clear understanding of why they become targets and what possible attacks they should expect. For instance, attackers may preform Denial of Service (DoS), or even worse Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), with intention to cause damage to targeted organizations and prevent legitimate users from accessing their services. However, in some cases, attackers are very skilled and try to hide in a system undetected for a long period of time with the incentive to steal and collect data rather than causing damages. Nowadays, not only the variety of attack types and the way they are launched are important. However, advancement in technology is another factor to consider. Over the last decades, we have experienced various new technologies. Obviously, in the beginning, new technologies will have their own limitations before they stand out. There are a number of related technical areas whose understanding is still less than satisfactory, and in which long-term research is needed. On the other hand, these new technologies can boost the advancement of deploying security solutions and countermeasures when they are carefully adapted. That said, Software Defined Networking i(SDN), its related security threats and solutions, and its adaption in enterprise environments bring us new chances to enhance our security solutions. To reach the optimal level of deploying SDN technology in enterprise environments, it is important to consider re-evaluating current deployed security solutions in traditional networks before deploying them to SDN-based infrastructures. Although DDoS attacks are a bit sinister, there are other types of cyber-threats that are very harmful, sophisticated, and intelligent. Thus, current security defense solutions to detect DDoS cannot detect them. These kinds of attacks are complex, persistent, and stealthy, also referred to Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) which often leverage the bot control and remotely access valuable information. APT uses multiple stages to break into a network. APT is a sort of unseen, continuous and long-term penetrative network and attackers can bypass the existing security detection systems. It can modify and steal the sensitive data as well as specifically cause physical damage the target system. In this dissertation, two cyber-attack motivations are considered: sabotage, where the motive is the destruction; and information theft, where attackers aim to acquire invaluable information (customer info, business information, etc). I deal with two types of attacks (DDoS attacks and APT attacks) where DDoS attacks are classified under sabotage motivation category, and the APT attacks are classified under information theft motivation category. To detect and mitigate each of these attacks, I utilize the ease of programmability in SDN and its great platform for implementation, dynamic topology changes, decentralized network management, and ease of deploying security countermeasures. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Computer Science 2018

Yes / Multi-stage attacks (MSAs) are among the most serious threats in cyberspace today. Criminals target big organisations and government critical infrastructures mainly for financial gain. These attacks are becoming more advanced and stealthier, and thus have capabilities to evade Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs). As a result, the attack strategies used in the attack render IDSs ineffective, particularly because of new security challenges introduced by some of the key emerging technologies such as 5G wireless networks, cloud computing infrastructure and Internet of Things (IoT), Advanced persistent threats (APTs) and botnet attacks are examples of MSAs, these are serious threats on the Internet. This work analyses recent MSAs, outlines and reveals open issues, challenges and opportunities with existing detection methods.