Identifying Key Cyber-Physical Terrain (Extended Version)

TL;DR

This paper introduces the concept of 'key cyber-physical terrain' to identify critical locations in mobile tactical networks that can control malware spread, using movement models and simulations.

Contribution

It defines and analyzes 'key cyber-physical terrain' for tactical networks, providing methods to identify these locations under dynamic movement conditions.

Findings

Key terrain can be identified quickly using proposed approximation strategies.

Simulation results show effective control of malware spread through key terrain.

Movement models help predict critical locations in dynamic environments.

Abstract

The high mobility of Army tactical networks, combined with their close proximity to hostile actors, elevates the risks associated with short-range network attacks. The connectivity model for such short range connections under active operations is extremely fluid, and highly dependent upon the physical space within which the element is operating, as well as the patterns of movement within that space. To handle these dependencies, we introduce the notion of "key cyber-physical terrain": locations within an area of operations that allow for effective control over the spread of proximity-dependent malware in a mobile tactical network, even as the elements of that network are in constant motion with an unpredictable pattern of node-to-node connectivity. We provide an analysis of movement models and approximation strategies for finding such critical nodes, and demonstrate via simulation that we can identify such key cyber-physical terrain quickly and effectively.