Cyber Terrain Mapping and Analysis of Operational Technology Networks

Project Summary

Modern warfare relies on complex and ever-changing networks of cyber devices. These networks include large networks at national headquarters, smaller ones in front-line command posts, and specialised Operational Technology Networks (OTN) on military vehicles, ships, and aircraft. Australia uses Defensive Cyber Operations Teams (DCOTs) to protect these networks from cyber threats. For these DCOTs to succeed, they must clearly understand what’s happening on the OTNs to focus on protecting the most essential systems during an attack.

When DCOTs work with military technology networks, they must quickly figure out what devices are connected, what they do for the military, and how they usually act. Doing this by hand on extensive and unpredictable networks is slow and error-prone, which can slow down the DCOT’s response to a fast-changing threat. This project is focused on creating specialised cybersecurity software to analyse and monitor OTNs more effectively. This project aims to create models and intelligent computer programs (AI algorithms and novel visualisation techniques) that can speed up the process of visualising, understanding, and monitoring unfamiliar technology networks.

This capability will help DCOTs protect the cyber infrastructure better and faster.