HUNTSVILLE – Sentar, teamed with SYColeman and Reifer Consultants, developed a concept for the Protection Analysis Work Stations (PAWS) under a Phase I SBIR project. The PAWS concept supports off-line analysis of computer network defense (CND) systems for the purpose of recommending improvements to their implementation. The PAWS analyzes a CND system in order to improve its ability to protect both the network system and its critical applications from malicious or accidental damage. The purpose of PAWS is to complement situation awareness system by providing that off-line analysis and recommending improvements to it. The opportunity is to begin implementation of PAWS, alongside the situational awareness (WCI-CND), to yield a proactive network defense system to guard against sophisticated cyber attacks.
Phase II PAWS efforts will demonstrate the feasibility and utility of an agent-based approach to collecting and analyzing information from a multitude of sources to provide new information and knowledge to security analysts in the support of updating and enhancing security plans and guidelines. The use of PAWS will enable CND systems to evolve with and respond to changes as well as with the threats changes. The technology is applicable to military systems as well as mission critical commercial systems such as those found in utilities and financial markets.