SMU Lyle School's Deason Institute for Cyber Security partners for research with Krimmeni Technologies
The Darwin Deason Institute for Cyber Security in the Lyle School of Engineering at SMU (Southern Methodist University) is partnering with Krimmeni Technologies for research involving hardware security modules and applications in the emerging area of connected devices known as the “Internet of Things.”
DALLAS (SMU) – The Darwin Deason Institute for Cyber Security in the Lyle School of Engineering at SMU (Southern Methodist University) is partnering with Krimmeni Technologies for research involving hardware security modules and applications in the emerging area of connected devices known as the “Internet of Things.” Hardware security modules provide a secure and efficient means for data communications among systems and devices with Internet connectivity.
The Deason Institute launched in January 2014, expanding upon SMU Lyle School’s 15-year history in computer security research through its Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Institute Director Fred Chang, who joined the university in 2013, is a renowned cyber security expert and former research director at the National Security Agency (NSA).
"Next-generation security requires a multidisciplinary approach to underlying hardware, device-level software and cloud computing architecture to scale and communicate securely with the rich array of devices that are being developed for the “Internet of Things (IoT),” Chang said. “We look forward to working with the Krimmeni team on these issues.”
"Krimmeni is honored to have the depth and experience of Professor Chang’s team working with us,” said David A. Lundgren, Krimmeni CEO. “We share a great sense of urgency in defending the massive increase in our collective attack surface that the IoT represents.”
The first project in the research partnership is led by principal investigator Mitchell A. Thornton, technical director of the Deason Institute and Lyle School professor of computer science and engineering. Thornton and his team have been investigating the viability of a mathematically based technique known as “formal methods” for addressing cyber security problems.
“The Krimmeni research project involves the application of techniques that provide automated mathematical proofs of correctness for the unique set of security issues arising from the design and implementation of hardware security modules and IoT,” Thornton said. “We are investigating how these techniques can be used to verify security properties of a system that consists of elements of integrated circuit hardware as well as cloud computing resources.”
The Darwin Deason Institute for Cyber Security takes a broad, interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving incorporating elements from law, business and the sciences as well as the more traditional technical disciplines of computer science and engineering. Areas of focus for the Deason Institute include:
- Developing techniques to prevent, protect and recover from cyber attacks on infrastructure
- Creating software and hardware designs that incorporate security and ensure protection and proper operation of mission-critical hardware components.
- Understanding and addressing critical issues in both psychology and economics to establish a deeper grasp of cyber security phenomena
- Employing data mining, machine learning and other technologies as tools to respond to complexities of information security
- Providing global leadership in the dialogue between law and policy institutes regarding cyber security, ethics and intellectual property
SMU is designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.
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SMU is a nationally ranked private university in Dallas founded 100 years ago. Today, SMU enrolls nearly 11,000 students who benefit from the academic opportunities and international reach of seven degree-granting schools.
SMU’s Bobby Lyle School of Engineering, founded in 1925, is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest. The school offers eight undergraduate and 29 graduate programs, including masters and doctoral degrees.
Krimmeni Technologies is a cloud-enabled, cybersecurity software company focused on secure communications for connected devices. The company, founded by veterans of Apple and Broadcom, has offices in Silicon Valley and Austin, Texas.
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