Sustainable Cybersecurity

Abstract: Information technology plays a crucial role in all areas of society, the economy, and science. Therefore cybersecurity is of utmost importance. But it is not enough to ask whether security is guaranteed at present. Instead, we must also consider whether cybersecurity is ensured in a sustainable manner—for example, whether protection mechanisms remain effective over the long term. In this talk, we outline the key protection goals that cybersecurity technologies must achieve. We discuss what sustainability means in the context of these goals and examine the extent to which current technologies can meet these requirements. Finally, we explore the scientific challenges that need to be addressed in order to ensure sustainable cybersecurity and privacy in the future.

Bio: Johannes Buchmann is a computer scientist and mathematician. He developed algorithmic algebraic number theory for cryptographic applications, and gained worldwide recognition through his research in the field of cryptography. Johannes Buchmann developed cryptographic methods, such as encryption and electronic signatures, and his work also focuses on issues of data protection and privacy. Johannes Buchmann attaches great importance to the development of crypto procedures that can also withstand attacks by quantum computers (post-quantum crypto procedures). Researchers assume that there will be quantum computers in the future that can override many of today’s cryptological security procedures (RSA, ECC). In their work, Johannes Buchmann and his team are addressing issues of long-term security – in particular the long-term storage of confidential data, and the long-term archiving of signed documents. Johannes Buschmann co-founded the Center for Advanced Security Research Darmstadt and FlexSecure GmbH in in cooperation with the company T-Systems and the German Center for Artificial Intelligence (DZKI).

The talk is a part of the Public Lecture Series ‘Sustainability in Computer Science’ under the auspices of Informatik Austria.