Airborne Network Trusted Code (Assurance) Involving the Anti-Access Environment

ABSTRACT: Advances in communication, computational capacity, and sensing systems have provided unprecedented capabilities to generate, process, and communicate vast amounts of information. Utilizing such a complex network for effective situational awareness requires a high level of trust in the data that is ultimately produced. Critical to this goal is ensuring the trustworthiness of the components that ultimately compose the system-of-systems. This is made more complicated by the fact that the Air Force relies heavily on commercial-off-the-shelf software for mission-critical functionality. This software varies highly in its quality and trustworthiness, and may contain vulnerabilities and poor design characteristics. In response to this need, Edaptive Computing Inc. proposes an innovative solution that combines a robust software evaluation framework with online performance detection and collaboration techniques... The proposed EDAptive AssuredNet solution builds on previous Edaptive Computing, Inc (ECI) knowledge and technology itself innovative to provide a comprehensive solution to assessing trust throughout development and deployment. Prior experience and new research have already shown that ECI"s innovative tools suite will be clearly adaptive to insert applicable technologies. BENEFIT: The need for more accurate situation awareness will continue to grow as the complexity and role of sensor and cyber networks also grow. Any solutions that can improve the reliability and safety of sensor networks will help increase readiness and can ultimately save lives. Similarly, any tools that can better protect mission-critical systems and prevent software vulnerabilities or untrusted nodes to harm a network will greatly improve the effectiveness of the warfighter. Not only will such a solution improve the ability to mitigate cyber threats, but a robust approach will make it easier to incorporate new sensors with advanced capabilities. The product of our effort is an assurance framework for assessing trustworthiness in complex network systems. The immediate warfighter applications include any design and deployment activity associated with sensor networks and similar large complex communications systems. Closely related DoD applications include any large scale enterprise systems (logistics, weapons systems information, and the like). The AssuredNet solution will be particularly relevant within the layered sensor methodology of the Air Force. Similar requirements exist and may be met within diverse public and private sector realms, including homeland security, law enforcement, and emergency response.