FAQ: Cyber Security R&D Center
- What does the Cyber Security Research and Development Center do?
- What kinds of activities are involved?
- Who funds the Center?
- Who runs the Center?
- Where is the Center located?
- What is SRI International?
- Why was SRI International selected for this program?
- What major new capabilities and innovations do you expect will be achieved with this program?
- Is there a military relevance to the Center or its work?
- I’m a member of the press. Whom do I contact for further information?
What does the Cyber Security Research and Development Center do?
The Cyber Security Research and Development Center helps support the Department of Homeland Security’s responsibility to secure a substantial portion of our nation’s critical infrastructure (including information and telecommunications, transportation, postal and shipping, emergency services and government continuity). The Center can deliver the research and public-private partnership innovations needed to ensure the U.S.’ technological superiority while protecting and enhancing civil liberties.
The Center supports the mission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate
to conduct research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) and the timely transition of cyber security capabilities to operational units within DHS, as well as federal, state, local and critical infrastructure sector operational end-users for homeland security purposes.
What kinds of activities are involved?
The Center’s activities fall into three general categories: center operations, coordination and outreach, and managed research programs and directed R&D. The Center works with private industry to develop public-private partnerships and leverage industry participation to ensure transition of maturing technologies
Who funds the Center?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate is responsible for funding research and development. As part of its cyber security mission, HSARPA utilizes the Center to focus cyber security R&D, testing, and evaluation efforts and to involve the best from academic, private industry and federal and national laboratories.
Who runs the Center?
The Center is managed by DHS S&T and supported by SRI International, an independent, nonprofit research institute, under the guidance of the DHS S&T Cyber Security Division Director, Dr. Douglas Maughan. The Center Project Director is Dr. Ulf Lindqvist, Program Director in SRI’s Computer Science Laboratory.
Where is the Center located?
The primary facility is at SRI International’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California (in Silicon Valley), facilitating interactions with the private industry and venture capital community. SRI also provides offices and conference facilities in Arlington, VA (near Washington, D.C.).
What is SRI International?
SRI International is one of the world’s leading independent research and technology development organizations. Founded as Stanford Research Institute in 1946, the nonprofit research institute performs contract research and development for government, business, and foundation clients. SRI provides solutions in information, communications, and engineering technologies; pharmaceuticals and biotechnology; chemistry and physics; homeland defense; and the public policy areas of education, health, and economic development. In addition to conducting contract R&D, SRI licenses its technologies, forms strategic partnerships and creates spin-off companies.
Why was SRI International selected for this program?
SRI International was selected to manage the Center because of its established presence and reputation in the cyber security research community. This selection was the result of a competitive bid process. For this position, DHS required an institution experienced in creating public-private partnerships into many communities including the government and private R&D communities, as well as the VC community that will help deploy the resulting technology to the public. SRI also has established relationships with leading companies in the private sector.
SRI has decades of experience in information security research and has produced significant innovations in intrusion detection and alert correlation, assurance through formal security models, specification, design, and verification, secure collaboration environments, and intrusion tolerance, among others. SRI also has extensive experience in experiment design and participation.
SRI’s work allows it to embrace a continuum of capabilities from basic research to product development. The institute partners with multiple communities including universities, government laboratories, corporations, start-up groups, and government agencies to deliver lasting value to our clients. Today, SRI stands ready to respond to another critical national need – that of securing the nation’s cyber infrastructure by leveraging decades of information security research and successful technology transition.
What major new capabilities and innovations do you expect will be achieved with this program?
The Department of Homeland Security’s National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) will define requirements for cyber security. The Center will in turn develop technology roadmaps to meet those requirements, and will identify and prioritize areas of R&D through that effort. The Center’s goal is to create an enduring public-private partnership that will look at the gaps in today’s technology to better protect our cyber infrastructure and develop and support the deployment of innovative solutions that will fill those gaps.
Is there a military relevance to the Center or its work?
The Department of Homeland Security is a civilian agency, and the Center will focus on meeting the needs of the civilian sector.