Michael’s principal research interests include cyber security (with particular focus on network security), real-time embedded systems and medical informatics. In 2011 he co-founded the OSNA cyber security research group (www.osna-solutions.com). OSNA’s prime focus is in researching and developing security solutions and services tailored to the network protocols and architectures used in M2M communications across numerous domains (including medical, smart grid and industrial control systems).

Current research projects include:

  • Port knocking protocols for the IoT
  • Zero-knowledge protocols and their application in sensor networks
  • Secure time synchronisation protocols
  • Honeynets
  • Deep learning algorithms applied to network security
  • Secure IoT reference architectures
  • TPM in embedded systems.

Honeypots and Honeynets for WSN

Honeypots and Honeynets are powerful tools to detect, deflect, or in some manner counteract attempts at unauthorised use of information systems. They play an increasingly important role in the area of cyber security. Honeypots come in different flavours (e.g. client-side versus server-side, low-interaction versus high-interaction) and represent either single computer or entire network infrastructures (honeypot versus honeynet). To-date they have been predominantly deployed in internet-connected information systems.

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) and the internet of things are two emerging technologies with potentially enormous growth rates. Such networks will be deployed in a diverse range of areas (from home automation to patient monitoring); they are based on distributed and energy-efficient embedded systems that are interconnected via a wireless link (typically based on IEEE 802.15.4).

With the rise of such networks new security threats are emerging. There is a huge need for the detection and deflection of cyber attacks in this domain. Therefore the goal of this project is to research attack vectors for WSN and to define and implement suitable honeypot/honeynet architectures.