The increasing number of cyber attacks on Australia’s critical infrastructure has raised concerns about the security of ports, energy grids, and water supplies. To address this growing threat, the country’s Federal Minister for Cyber Security, Clare O’Neil, announced the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures for 168 critical infrastructure assets, nearly double the previous number. In response to this challenge, a mathematical breakthrough known as “ineffable cryptography” has emerged, offering a new and secure approach to cybersecurity for critical infrastructure.
Ineffable cryptography is a result of multidisciplinary collaboration between mathematicians from Tide and RMIT. The technology allows system access authority to be distributed invisibly and securely across a network, eliminating any weak links. Legacy systems and their interconnected nature make critical infrastructure especially vulnerable to hacking, making this breakthrough all the more crucial. Dr. Joanne Hall, the lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of collaboration in producing a cutting-edge solution that sets a new standard for cybersecurity.
Traditional approaches to infrastructure access control, such as password protection, have proven to be insecure. Alternatives like multifactor authentication and key-based access come with their own vulnerabilities and complexity. In contrast, ineffable cryptography ensures that data and devices are locked with keys that no one holds. This is achieved by generating and operating keys across a decentralized network of servers, with each server holding only a part of the key. This decentralized approach eliminates single points of failure or compromise, making the keys impossible to steal, lose, or misuse.
The implications of ineffable cryptography extend beyond cybersecurity for critical infrastructure. The technology can also be used to secure identities, health information, financial systems, and privacy in AI applications. This versatility makes it a valuable tool in a wide range of industries where data security is paramount.
RMIT has collaborated with Tide for three years to scientifically validate the capabilities of ineffable cryptography. The collaboration involved top mathematicians and cybersecurity experts from RMIT, including the Chief Information Security Officer. Additionally, a select group of cybersecurity students worked with industry partners to test and prove the technology’s ability to solve critical infrastructure security challenges. RMIT’s AWS Cloud Supercomputing Hub and Cloud Innovation Centre provided the necessary infrastructure for rapid testing and innovation.
The solution has received positive feedback from managed service providers involved in the trial, demonstrating its potential to enhance security in industries like smart building services. For example, Australian company Smart Building Services (SBS) Digital, which provides smart metering systems to industrial complexes, sees the integration of ineffable cryptography as essential for ensuring the reliability and integrity of their Netstream utility platform.
The increasing number of cyber attacks on critical infrastructure highlights the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures. Ineffable cryptography offers a groundbreaking solution that distributes system access authority invisibly and securely across a network. This technology eliminates the vulnerabilities associated with traditional approaches and provides a new standard for data security. Its versatility extends beyond critical infrastructure to various industries, making it a powerful tool for securing sensitive information. With further research and development, ineffable cryptography has the potential to revolutionize cybersecurity and safeguard our most critical assets.
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