Overview

Homeland Security Requirements

Threats to our nation will continue to come from a variety of unexpected and technologically sophisticated adversaries. During times of crisis, it is essential to quickly and securely marshal the correct and necessary telecommunications resources to prevent interruption of services and/or respond securely to an emergency. Effective support for the mission of Homeland Security will require innovative systems that are rapidly deployable, highly adaptable, and relatively inexpensive. The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) has a world-class research team with a proven track record of successfully delivering integrated solutions for complex, interdisciplinary problems. Hardware and software scientists are brought together by a unique, first in the nation, ABET accredited telecommunications engineering program that has flourished in the last five years. This expertise is essential because countering terrorist acts, including cyberterrorism, demands secure telecommunications networks and advanced information systems.

Cyber Security and Information Assurance at UT Dallas

The CyberSecurity & Emergency Preparedness Institute researchers have a very impressive record of performing innovative digital forensics, information assurance and emergency preparedness research in areas including network survivability, rapidly deployable networks, sensor networks, reconfigurable hardware, self healing software, anti-piracy methods, signal processing, data mining, high assurance systems engineering, emergency response information systems and others. Importantly, the researchers have continually demonstrated their ability to deliver comprehensive, practical solutions at the device, system and network level. Many members of the team have worked in and with industry in the engineering and manufacture of commercially successful products. Three relevant, recent accomplishments at UT Dallas include:

UT Dallas has been designated as a “National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education” by the U.S. National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) thus becoming a key player in the nation’s efforts to secure its information assets.
- UT Dallas established the $2-million Security Analysis and Information Assurance Laboratory (SAIAL) in 2005. This lab has the capability of assisting the investigator in the testing and implementation of new software and tools to fight Cyber-crime and is a hub of cybersecurity research and education for faculty, university partners, government and industry.

The development, implementation and operation of a highly-secure, web-based E-Plan Information System that rapidly provides hazardous material data to emergency response teams. Funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the fall of 2000, the E-Plan system tracks inventories of hazardous materials at industrial sites. These inventories are accessed by numerous fire departments and local/state/federal agencies, for routine training and HazMat emergency situations including truck and train accidents. Current funding from DHS.
- E-Plan is currently in use in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, New York, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia.
- E-Plan has nationwide coverage in 50 states, District of Columbia and four U.S. territories.
The development, implementation and operation of a ultra-high secure and robust Quality Excellence for Suppliers of Telecommunications Forum (QuEST Forum) TL 9000 Measurements Repository System (MRS) / Registration Management System (RMS) / Web System with development beginning in spring of 1999 and full operation in January of 2000. The QuEST Forum is an industry-wide consortium of over 100 leading telecommunications companies worldwide. The QuEST Forum Computer System houses worldwide, highly competitive, telecommunications performance data and in January of 2000 was the first system in North America to receive the arduous British Standards Institute, BS 7799 Information Security Certification. BS 7799 is now ISO/IEC 27001. In addition, the system has been certified to TL 9000 and ISO 9001:2000 since January 2003.
- The QuEST Forum Computer System has received no system security violations in the eight years of global operations.