It has become increasingly evident during the global pandemic, that American citizens, industry, and operators of the nation’s infrastructure are more reliant than ever before on the Internet to maintain their lives and operations. At the same time, cybersecurity professionals have seen a 63% increase in cyberattacks related to the pandemic (according to Information Systems Security Association and Enterprise Strategy Group).

Argonne’s Strategic Security Sciences division conducts research and provides insight into cyber resilience and cybersecurity that helps secure our nation’s information and systems. In collaboration with other scientific and academic research teams, Argonne’s cybersecurity scientists are at work to:

• Explore the ramifications of our increasing Internet reliance and cyber interconnection across industries;
• Ascertain the big picture of the cyber threat landscape and rapidly limit/mitigate risks, especially to our critical infrastructure; and
• Determine how best to securely integrate, through public-private partnerships, emerging technologies into existing cyber infrastructure.

Two of Argonne’s cybersecurity scientists will present their research on this important topic.

• Scott Pinkerton, Program Lead, Cyber Threat Sharing

  Scott’s team develops and implements machine-to-machine information sharing tools to rapidly disseminate cyber threat information to enable rapid risk mitigation. They are also developing techniques to utilize machine-to-machine communication in order to improve cyber situational awareness. These scientists aim to help operationalize public-private partnerships to counter malicious cyber activities that threaten the nation’s infrastructure like the electric grid and transportation systems.

• Roland Varriale, Cybersecurity Analyst

  Roland oversees a team of cross-disciplinary scientists who are studying cyber vulnerability in cars and other vehicles with ​“smart” features. Leveraging expertise in machine learning, cybersecurity, and vehicle systems, these scientists use physical and simulated test sites to gauge the risk of cyberattacks on vehicles and mitigate a new generation of cyber threats. Roland’s research also includes looking at new ways that technologies, such as vehicle charging infrastructure and building energy management systems, are being used and the risks associated with their integration within existing systems.

Special Guest

• Paul Kearns, Laboratory Director