Vision

The DSS group’s research focus is on developing platform technologies with the purpose of increasing trust and confidence in modern distributed systems and data generated by those systems, specifically in the areas of Internet-of-Things (IoT) security and autonomic cyber systems. These areas are supported by the overarching cybersecurity governance, policies and awareness focus. Cyber criminals prefer easy targets and quick outcomes in their attacks. In this asymmetric game between adversaries and defenders, DSS synthesises methods from modern cryptography, statistics, operations research, data analytics and machine learning to develop novel security solutions that increase complexity for adversaries only. The knowledge base built by DSS in addressing the IoT security and autonomic cyber systems will be absorbed into a cybersecurity governance approach that will play a major role in the establishing and maintaining of a national cybersecurity awareness and culture. Combining these focus areas, DSS aims to address the human, physical and cyber spheres to create a niche capability offering within Data61. Due to the nature of the projects focused on by DSS, the group strictly aligns with the Data61 cybersecurity priority for this financial year.

DSS aims to achieve its goals by (a) building capabilities within Data61, (b) developing an Australian academic cybersecurity ecosystem through Collaborative Research Projects (CRPs), and (c) establishing collaboration with world leading researchers in the field through various programs (e.g., visiting scientists). DSS aims to draw on its internal strengths, research capabilities and networks to build a multi-disciplinary repository of technical and scientific approaches and methodologies to capitalise on the growth opportunities in the cyber domain.

The high-level goal of DSS is to achieve both academic excellence and impact. The goal is pursued by having the above three core areas of technology expertise supported by a number of team members each, supplemented by a range of related PhD study topics.