SBIR-STTR Award

Maintaining absolute security of existing network infrastructure and adopting emerging next generation network technologies: 5G, multi-GB and Cloud infrastructure is a priority for the Air Force (AF). High-speed networks connecting sensors, OT/IoT and autonomous systems will become prevalent in smart - depot, tactical edge and asset (e.g. aircraft, ship) operations. However, as networks scale, cybersecurity resiliency and performance are becoming major concerns to the AF leadership. Even the best-in-class, COTS cybersecurity and network management tools employed by cyber/network analysts and engineers are becoming insufficient to support such emerging situations. We are proposing to address some of the major limitations of today’s COTS tools by adapting our innovative incident management and anomaly detection technology with Root Cause Analysis (RCA) capability. It is a patented, scalable, ultra-fast, real-time technology that can significantly improve the productivity and effectiveness of AF’s analysts and engineers. We have gained insights into AF needs and opportunities through discussions with AF stakeholders and customers, where our technology can offer significant improved capabilities and benefits. During the Phase I project, we will engage with AF end-users and customers to understand their requirements, collaboratively discuss innovative solutions and define suitable pilot projects, with a goal of improving the resiliency of AF’s existing and emerging networks.

5G (including licensed-Cellular, CBRS, and next-generation Wi-Fi 6E/7), Next-G, high-performance networks, as enablers for next-generation Edge and Cloud computing, are anticipated to offer more efficient and superior capabilities. Considering the anticipated disruptive capabilities provided by such networks, the Department of Defense (DoD), other federal government agencies, and the private sector manufacturing and utility companies are planning to acquire and operate such private-5G and software-defined (SD) networks. High-bandwidth, low-latency (HBLL) networks connecting Operational IT (OT), Internet of Things (IoT), sensors and autonomous systems will become prevalent in military’s tactical and installations-based applications, and private-sector applications such as smart-manufacturing, and smart-warehouse. However, maintaining and managing the utmost security, availability, and Quality-of-Service (QoS) is a big responsibility and area of concern for such private-5G operators. The state-of-the-art, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) cybersecurity and network management tools that have been traditionally used by cyber/network analysts and engineers will have limitations to manage such HBLL networks. Hence, through this Phase II R&D effort, we are proposing to create a new and innovative software product, called “CIREN-5G” for these networks. As a daily operational tool, it will enable cybersecurity and network analysts to quickly detect and identify anomalies, intrusions, and network performance. It will help them to meet the necessary cybersecurity and operational performance metrics, suitable to their private-5G network. For this effort, we plan to leverage our existing (as-is) patented technology called “CIREN” (Critical Infrastructure Resiliency Exception Notifier). The proposed Phase II effort will also build upon our previous SBIR Phase I project, during which we validated the “product-market fit” and identified potential DoD customers. Our proposed technology will be able to support the key 5G use cases such as URLLC, eMBB, mMTC, and V2X and the relevant Standards such as 3GPP. It will offer very high accuracy, response times, ability to perform anomaly detection, quick root-cause-analysis, and threat forensics. Our Phase II R&D will also provide a foundation for the future addition of “contextual AI”, support for mobile ad-hoc networks (MANET), and “Operate-through” situations, which are of interest to the DoD.