Nuari will collaborate with academic and commercial partners to devise an advanced cyber architecture tailored to additive manufacturing operational technology

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded a $250,000 Project Grant under the Congressionally-Identified Projects program (CFDA 11.617) to Norwich University Applied Research Institutes LTD (Nuari) to develop an advanced cybersecurity architecture tailored for additive manufacturing operational technology. Nuari will collaborate with academic and commercial partners to devise this architecture, which aims to preemptively detect vulnerabilities and potential cyber threats within small-to-medium manufacturers' industrial control systems. The project seeks to enhance cyberattack detection capabilities, implement secure data access and analysis mechanisms, and validate the effectiveness of the developed cybersecurity strategies through testing in simulated and real-world manufacturing environments. The award period is from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025.

Activities

Nuari will develop an advanced cybersecurity architecture to fortify the security of small-medium manufacturers' industrial control systems, recognizing their susceptibility to cyber-attacks. This initiative aims to preemptively detect vulnerabilities and potential threats before they impact the physical manufacturing process. The cyber architecture will operate alongside existing control systems, modeling control commands and virtually replicating the physical processes they oversee, enabling predictive measures against system-controlled attacks. This proposed architecture will offer a robust defense mechanism tailored to the needs of smms. Nuari will utilize congressional funding to conduct comprehensive research, engineering, testing, and prototyping of this advanced cyber architecture in collaboration with industry, students, faculty, and researchers.

Expected outcomes

Develop a framework for accessing and analyzing operational data fromdevices, specifically targeting additive technology, in near real-time. Enhance cyberattack detection capabilities within manufacturing environments by leveraging operational data to identify subtle anomalies indicative of cyber threats. Implement secure mechanisms for accessing and analyzing operational data to mitigate potential risks to process performance and safety. Design and implement innovative cybersecurity strategies that enable deep visibility intoenvironments without compromising operational integrity. Validate the effectiveness and feasibility of the developed architecture through rigorous testing and evaluation in simulated and real-world manufacturing environments. Provide actionable insights and recommendations for optimizing cybersecurity measures inenvironments based on the project findings. Foster knowledge sharing and collaboration among cybersecurity professionals and industry stakeholders to promote adopting best practices and standards incybersecurity. Contribute to advancing cybersecurity research and development inenvironments, positioning the project as a pioneering effort in safeguarding critical infrastructure against cyber threats.

Intended beneficiaries

Nuari's operational technology advanced cyber architecture initiative perfectly aligns with NIST's mission to enhance U.S. Innovation and industrial competitiveness. Focused on addressing the specific challenges smms, particularly in additive manufacturing, the project aims to advance cybersecurity research and fortify industrial control systems. By tailoring cybersecurity solutions to the needs of smms, nuari empowers these businesses to thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape, fostering economic security and innovation. The initiative accelerates the adoption of advanced technology solutions, supporting the growth of domestic manufacturing and bolstering competitiveness in the sector.subre