Funding providers: CENSUS Labs and Swansea University
Subject areas: Computer Science
Project start date:
- 1 October 2023 (Enrolment open from mid-September)
Project supervisors:
Aligned programme of study: PhD in Computer Science
Mode of study: Full-time
Project description:
Model-based security testing has the potential to provide for systematic testing and evaluation of implementations. Security testing of embedded systems (as part of an increasing real-world need for IoT evaluation and certification) is increasingly being adopted in a number of sectors. In collaboration with CENSUS Labs, who are involved in real-world security testing and assurance of systems, this project would develop a formal framework for model-based testing. The model will have to represent the environment, I/O interfaces, internal implementation complexities, and also account for a threat model to represent attacker behaviour. Following from this, a test case generation algorithm would be implemented to account for systematic faults and manipulated sequences to evaluate the system. The project will implement a bespoke test bench, in close collaboration with CENSUS Labs, to automate this tool chain with the ultimate view to assurance against established standards and best practices. The existing configuration provided by embedded systems emulated on an FPGA development environment is a likely test platform for this purpose. A hostile communications environment would be used to emulate attacks established in the literature. Use case from consumer and automotive IoT are likely candidates for early testing against known safety- and liveness-related security properties.
Eligibility
Candidates must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level in Computer Science, Mathematics or a closely related discipline, or an appropriate master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University).
As well as academic qualifications, Admissions decisions may be based on other factors, including (but not limited to): the standard of the research synopsis/proposal, performance at interview, intensity of competition for limited places, and relevant professional experience.
English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 overall (with at least 6.0 in each individual component) or Swansea recognised equivalent.
Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations.
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