Cyber Security Seminar Series with Professor Kevin Curran
TU Dublin is delighted to present the next talk in our Cyber Security Seminar Series, with guest speaker Professor Kevin Curran.
“Preserving Data/Query Privacy Using Searchable Symmetric Encryption”
To join us live via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, 5th of May 2021 at 6:00pm please click here.
Abstract: The benefits of Cloud computing include reduced costs, high reliability, as well as the immediate availability of additional computing resources as needed. Despite such advantages, Cloud Service Provider (CSP) consumers need to be aware that the Cloud poses its own set of unique risks that are not typically associated with storing and processing one’s own data internally using privately owned infrastructure. Recent years have seen a number of such incidents occur, whereby customer data hosted on the Cloud has been leaked. The ideal solution to achieving an optimal balance of data security and functionality within the Cloud involves the CSP having the ability to search and operate on data while it is in encrypted form.
New techniques such as Fully Homomorphic Encryption and Searchable Encryption have arisen to make this a reality. Fully-Homomorphic Encryption supports computations over data in encrypted form but an efficient Fully-Homomorphic Encryption remains someway off. Searchable Encryption however, despite being a relatively obscure form of Cryptography is now at the point that it can be deployed and used within the Cloud. Searchable Encryption can allow CSP customers to store their data in encrypted form, while retaining the ability to search that data without disclosing the associated decryption keys to CSPs. Symmetric Search Encryption (SSE) represents one of the few forms of Searchable Encryption that is achievable using established standardised encryption algorithms. This talk will discuss a Searchable Symmetric Encryption scheme which is efficient enough to be deployed in a Cloud environment to achieve industry acceptable search speeds whilst maintaining Data Privacy.
Biography: Kevin Curran is a Professor of Cyber Security, Co-Executive Director of the Legal Innovation Centre and group leader of the Cyber Security & Web Technologies Research Group at Ulster University. He sits on the Advisory Group of the UK Cyber Security Council and the Northern Ireland Civil Service Cyber Leadership Board. His achievements include winning and managing UK & European Framework projects and Technology Transfer Schemes. Professor Curran has made significant contributions to advancing the knowledge and understanding of computer networks and security, evidenced by over 800 published works.
His expertise has been acknowledged by invitations to present his work at international conferences, overseas universities and research laboratories. He is a regular contributor to print, online, radio & TV news on computing & security issues. He was the recipient of an Engineering and Technology Board Visiting Lectureship for Exceptional Engineers and is an IEEE Public Visibility technical expert since 2008. He held a Royal Academy of Engineering/Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellowship. Professor Curran’s stature and authority in the international community is demonstrated by his influence, particularly in relation to the direction of research in cybersecurity. He has chaired sessions and participated in the organising committees for many highly-respected international conferences and workshops.
He was the founding Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Ambient Computing and Intelligence and is also a member of numerous Journal Editorial boards and international conference organising committees. He has authored a number of books and is the recipient of various patents. He has served as an advisor to the British Computer Society in regard to the computer industry standards and is a member of BCS and IEEE Technology Specialist Groups and various other professional bodies. His website is availble to view here.