TY - JOUR
T1 - Secure communication networks and distributed systems for a resilient society
AU - Fischer, Mathias
AU - Garcia-Alfaro, Joaquin
AU - Kesdogan, Dogan
AU - Mann, Zoltán Ádám
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s)
PY - 2025/1/1
Y1 - 2025/1/1
N2 - Given the central role of modern digital technologies, it is crucial that digital infrastructures and information systems be resilient. Yet, communication networks and interconnected IT systems are not always secure nor reliable. They are susceptible to design and implementation flaws, which make them vulnerable to attacks. This briefing paper aims to examine the root causes of this problem and how we could address them. We start by exploring some practical scenarios that demonstrate failures in the construction of secure networks and distributed systems. We then explore technical and non-technical challenges as potential root causes of these failures and conclude with a call to action to address the issues. We find that several stakeholder groups – particularly researchers, developers, decision-makers, and policy-makers – must take action to ensure that networks and distributed systems become more secure and resilient in the future.
AB - Given the central role of modern digital technologies, it is crucial that digital infrastructures and information systems be resilient. Yet, communication networks and interconnected IT systems are not always secure nor reliable. They are susceptible to design and implementation flaws, which make them vulnerable to attacks. This briefing paper aims to examine the root causes of this problem and how we could address them. We start by exploring some practical scenarios that demonstrate failures in the construction of secure networks and distributed systems. We then explore technical and non-technical challenges as potential root causes of these failures and conclude with a call to action to address the issues. We find that several stakeholder groups – particularly researchers, developers, decision-makers, and policy-makers – must take action to ensure that networks and distributed systems become more secure and resilient in the future.
KW - Cybersecurity
KW - Distributed system security
KW - Network security
KW - Security requirements
KW - Security risk assessment
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105025120171
U2 - 10.1016/j.cose.2025.104791
DO - 10.1016/j.cose.2025.104791
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105025120171
SN - 0167-4048
VL - 162
JO - Computers and Security
JF - Computers and Security
M1 - 104791
ER -