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Assessing ICT risk through a Monte Carlo method

Author

Listed:
  • Fabrizio Baiardi

    (Università di Pisa)

  • Daniele Sgandurra

    (CNR)

Abstract

To assess and manage the risk due to an information and communication system before its deployment, data of interest can be produced by a Monte Carlo method. This paper presents Haruspex, a software tool that applies a Monte Carlo method to simulate intelligent and adaptive threat agents that reach predefined goals through plan with several attacks. The samples that Haruspex collects are used to compute statistics on the agent’s impacts and their plans as well as to select cost-effective countermeasures. We describe the rationale and the implementation of Haruspex, the inputs it requires and the simulation of how the agents select and implement their plans. After discussing the validation and the performance of the first version of Haruspex, we present a case study and the first set of experimental results.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabrizio Baiardi & Daniele Sgandurra, 2013. "Assessing ICT risk through a Monte Carlo method," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 33(4), pages 486-499, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:envsyd:v:33:y:2013:i:4:d:10.1007_s10669-013-9463-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10669-013-9463-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Zachary A. Collier & Igor Linkov & James H. Lambert, 2013. "Four domains of cybersecurity: a risk-based systems approach to cyber decisions," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 33(4), pages 469-470, December.
    2. Fabrizio Baiardi & Federico Tonelli & Alessandro Bertolini, 2015. "Iterative selection of countermeasures for intelligent threat agents," International Journal of Network Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(5), pages 340-354, September.

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