Collection of general data mining briefings

1
Software Engineering Systems Engineering
Security Engineering
Dr. Bhavani Thuraisingham The University of
Texas at Dallas
September 19, 2006

2
Software Engineering, Systems Engineering,
Security Engineering

• Software Engineering (SE) is the discipline of
  designing, creating, and maintaining software by
  applying technologies and practices from computer
  science, project management, engineering and
  other fields.
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_development
• Systems Engineering (SE) is an interdisciplinary
  approach and means for enabling the realization
  and deployment of successful systems. It can be
  viewed as the application of engineering
  techniques to the engineering of systems, as well
  as the application of a systems approach to
  engineering efforts
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_Engineer
• Security engineering is about building systems to
  remain dependable in the face of malice, error or
  mischance. As a discipline, it focuses on the
  tools, processes and methods needed to design,
  implement and test complete systems, and to adapt
  existing systems as their environment evolves.
• http//www.cl.cam.ac.uk/rja14/

3
Software Engineering, Systems Engineering,
Security Engineering

• System engineering encompasses both software
  engineering and security engineering
• To develop systems we need good software
  engineering methods we also need good security
  engineering techniques
• Goal is built systems that are dependable and
  evolvable
• Dependability includes security, privacy, fault
  tolerant, time critical, trust and integrity
• Software engineering, systems engineering and
  security engineering should be intertwined

4
End-End Systems Development

• Component-based systems
• Integration of large scale components
• Examples include Middleware, Data Manager,
  Applications
• Flexible systems to satisfy policies
• Formal methods as well as various testing methods
  to ensure that the interfaces meet the
  specifications

5
How should education proceed?

• Much of the academic education has focused on
  software engineering
• We have produced software engineering who do not
  perhaps fully understand many of the complexities
  involved in designing large scale systems
• Example of such a system is AWACS (Airborne
  Warning and Control System my experience at
  MITRE in the mid 1990s)
• The systems have to be dependable
• For example they have to be secure and have to
  meet timing constrains conflicting goals
• Security engineering has to be a integral part of
  software engineering
• Students should understand the fundamentals as
  well as the engineering of complex systems

6
How should education proceed?

• Difficult to have a sound and complete education
  in system engineering without the active
  participation of industry working on systems
  acquisition and academia
• System engineering corporations include large
  defense contractors such as Raytheon, Lockheed
  and Boeing
• Must integrate theory with industry internships
• Five year curriculum where students spend 1 year
  in the industry either 3rd or 4th year

7
How should education proceed?

• Year 1 Basic courses and prerequisites
• Year 2 Strong foundation in Software engineering
• Year 3 Courses in security, Systems engineering,
  End-to-End systems development and integration
• Year 4 Industry experience
• Year 5 Students build prototype systems combined
  with a study of the fundamentals

8
Instructors?

• Combination of Academia, Industry and
  Government/Domain experts they have to work
  closely together
• Academics instructors will focus on the basics
  such as security, software engineering and also
  teach the application of formal methods to ensure
  that the systems are secure or meet the
  specifications
• Government./Domain expert instructors will
  discuss requirements, acquisition process, their
  needs
• Industry Experts will discuss what is involved in
  systems engineering, what will be expected of the
  student

9
Some Directions

• Multiple universities could work together and
  offer joint programs taking advantage of the
  strengths of each do not reinvent the wheel
• E.g., University of Texas at Dallas has a strong
  program in Software Engineering, University of
  Virginia has a strong program in Systems
  Engineering, University of Cambridge is strong in
  Security Engineering
• The three schools could put their resources
  together and offer joint national/international
  programs
• Program has to be fairly comprehensive and cover
  all the manor aspects
• Start with a MS program before expanding to a 5
  year undergrad program
• Possibly offer a 5 year BS/MS program

10
Directions

• We need to start right away
• Have FOCUSED conferences/workshops
• Government/industry/academia workshop
• Need to determine the role of standards
• Pilot programs
• IEEE, ACM - - - participation
• Curriculum development