Acquisition of Spirent CF20 CyberFlood for Cybersecurity Research and Teaching for Multidisciplinary Engineering at Prairie View A&M University
Abstract
The proposed project seeks funding to acquire Spirent CF20 CyberFlood Testing Equipment/System to improve and accelerate research and classroom teaching in cybersecurity and network engineering at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), and addresses the nationwide problem of shortage of experts in cybersecurity. To effectively combat cyber-attacks, it is necessary to study the attack vectors, investigate the security issues, develop new security models, and investigate cybersecurity management for various interconnected cyber systems. The CF20 allows testing the networkÕs vulnerability and performance metrics in terms of network/web infrastructure in depth. The CF20 offers web-based simplified testing by consolidating multiple test functions into a single small form factor appliance. It also provides Advanced Fuzz testing to find unknown vulnerabilities creating millions of possible test scenarios quickly and easily. The system comes with a TestCloud of thousands of malicious up-to-date attack vectorÕs database. The proposed equipment is relevant in researching problems identified in AROÕs INFORMATION SCIENCES (IS) CAMPAIGN (KCI-IS-1: Cyber Fire and Maneuver in Tactical Battle). The proposed system/equipment will remove the researchersÕ limitations in testing the new solutions to cybersecurity/network engineering and enhance the research capability and knowledge gap in education. The research team seeks solutions to network intrusion detection and prevention system, various cyber-attacks such as the zero-day attack, distributed denial of service (DDOS), man-in-the-middle attack (MMA), profile testing, and other critical issues for cyberinfrastructure. Successful completion of the project will provide complete and rigorous modeling of network and cybersecurity solutions, and the outcome will be infused to the educational module at the undergraduate and graduate level to improve the cybersecurity learning experiences. The objectives of acquiring the equipment include (i) conducting research in cybersecurity and network engineering to defend cyber-attacks, (ii) enhancing classroom teaching by developing new teaching modules, and (iii) developing student expertise in conducting cybersecurity/network research. Cybersecurity is linked in every aspect of society and impact every major system in our Nation. This project addresses an urgent national need to provide cybersecurity-solutions and train students in the cybersecurity domain to help the U.S. retain its technological competitiveness. The project targets traditionally underrepresented students Ð African American, Hispanics and females Ð and will set the foundation for fostering and introducing cybersecurity education to undergraduate and graduate students. The project will directly impact underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students. On a broader level, this project will (i) improve the research capability and increase the engagement of underrepresented students in Cybersecurity research, (ii) motivate undergraduates to pursue in graduate studies in STEM fields and promote minority students to pursue a career in STEM-related fields especially in cybersecurity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 04, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910449
Entities
People
- Shumon Alam
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- Prairie View State College