Challenges in cybersecurity: Lessons from biological defense systems

Edward Schrom, Ann Kinzig, Stephanie Forrest, Andrea L Graham, Simon A Levin*, Carl T Bergstrom, Carlos Castillo-Chavez, James P Collins, Rob J de Boer, Adam Doupé, Roya Ensafi, Stuart Feldman, Bryan T Grenfell, J Alex Halderman, Silvie Huijben, Carlo Maley, Melanie Moses, Alan S Perelson, Charles Perrings, Joshua PlotkinJennifer Rexford, Mohit Tiwari

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Defending against novel, repeated, or unpredictable attacks, while avoiding attacks on the 'self', are the central problems of both mammalian immune systems and computer systems. Both systems have been studied in great detail, but with little exchange of information across the different disciplines. Here, we present a conceptual framework for structured comparisons across the fields of biological immunity and cybersecurity, by framing the context of defense, considering different (combinations of) defensive strategies, and evaluating defensive performance. Throughout this paper, we pose open questions for further exploration. We hope to spark the interdisciplinary discovery of general principles of optimal defense, which can be understood and applied in biological immunity, cybersecurity, and other defensive realms.

Original languageEnglish
Article number109024
Number of pages10
JournalMathematical Biosciences
Volume362
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2023

Keywords

  • Complex systems
  • Cybersecurity
  • Defense
  • Immunology

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