Process-Oriented Security
This research thrust focuses on developing context-aware methods that consider the knowledge of the physical operation at the process level to validate, detect and identify compromised components in the system. The concept can be applied to different applications; our initial focus is on additive manufacturing and energy systems.
Hardware and Software Security
This thrust focuses on developing software and hardware-based solutions to protect the privacy of confidential information. That includes developing techniques for secure and efficient processing in memory, such as methods for self-destructing IP, to allow content transmission for one-time use, and efficient homomorphic and in-memory encryption. This applies to “home assistants, IoT, video conference, surveillance, streaming media,” among other applications.
Privacy Preserving Technologies
We are developing contact tracing approaches that are capable of detecting direct and indirect infections using either simple devices, like bracelets, or smart phones. This effort focuses on designing privacy-preserving techniques that are resilient to inference attacks and ensure that location of users could not be tracked.
Law and Public Policy
In association with Pitt Cyber, Pitt has clusters of scholars who could contribute to the law and policy aspects of the center.
- One cluster focuses on modeling and managing the role of cyber-physical systems in international trade and supply chains, combining agent-based and systems modeling, high-efficiency computing, and the security of cyber-physical systems with policy and international experience.
- A second cluster would focus on privacy-preserving sensors in urban environments, including groups that work on trust and credibility, the Internet of Things, mechanism design, and smart cities.