Singapore Management University established the Secure Mobile Centre (SMC) on 15 October 2014 following an announcement by the National Research Foundation (NRF) on awarded projects under the National Cybersecurity R&D programme.

SMC hosts the National Satellite of Excellence in Mobile Systems Security and Cloud Security (NSoE MSS-CS), a five year research initiative (April 2019 - March 2024) sponsored by NRF's National Cybersecurity R&D programme. The NSoE MSS-CS aims to build a mobile system security and mobile cloud security technology pipeline for smart nation applications. Detailed description of the research scope can be found here.

 

NATIONAL SATELLITE OF EXCELLENCE IN MOBILE SYSTEM SECURITY AND CLOUD SECURITY (NSOE MSS-CS)

OBJECTIVE

The overall objective is to build a mobile system security and mobile cloud security technology pipeline for smart nation applications.

Specifically, the programme would like to direct its core research and competitive grant calls to address mobile and cloud security issues in the context of real-time monitoring/decision systems in the smart nation.

SCOPE

The research scope of the programme is summarised in the diagram below.

Research scope of National Satellite Of Excellence In Mobile System Security And Cloud Security (NSOE MSS-CS)
  • Mobile platform security. Today's mobile platforms are some of the most complex and capable computing devices ever created. They share many of the same security threats as traditional desktop computers and are exposed to more threats brought about by their mobility complexity, and additional sensors. Attacks directed at mobile platforms are much more damaging than attacks at the application level and hence, it is paramount to secure mobile platforms so that they can effective in protecting both user privacy and ensuring execution of critical functions.
  • Automatic and continuous user authentication. Real time monitoring/decision systems such as the elderly monitoring system present many demanding problems for problems for users in authenticating themselves to various devices and systems. Traditional authentication methods like passwords are not suitable for elderly and may disrupt workflow and interfere with primary mission of elderly care. New authentication techniques must blend into the real time monitoring space seamlessly.
  • Mobile app security. Mobile apps allow users to access various sensors built into their mobile devices, access files stored locally and communicate with other users, systems and cloud services. As a result, vulnerable or maliciously infected mobile apps can be very costly to both individuals and organizations.
  • Mobile cloud security. Data records in real time monitoring system may contain sensitive information, hence measures must be in place to protect data security and privacy when they outsourced to the cloud. In particular, access control and privacy-preserving computation over the outsourced records are essential to prohibit leakage of private information to unauthorized parties, including the cloud operators. Data provide a basis for decision making. Access to and computation on such data should be accountable, which means measures must be in place to monitor buggy of inappropriate behaviour of the virtual machines or applications in the cloud.
Not only do mobile devices and applications present a unique set of risks for individual's privacy, but also new security challenges to enterprise information systems. The purpose of SMU’s Secure Mobile Centre is to address these security needs with the aim of making Singapore a more sustainable, secure, robust and resilient nation.
Steven MILLER
Vice Provost (Research)
Founding Dean, School of Computing and Information Systems (2003 - 2016)
Professor of Information Systems (Practice)
Singapore Management University

 

Information security has become a paramount concern in today’s digital age. As mobile computing evolves rapidly, both emerging opportunities and risks leave much room for exploration by security experts and exploitation by hackers.
Robert DENG
Professor of Information Systems
Director, Secure Mobile Center
School of Computing and Information Systems
Singapore Management University

 

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