The Dependability of Complex Socio-Technical Infrastructure
Prof. Ross Anderson ( University of Cambridge )
- 17:00 6th June 2011 ( week 6, Trinity Term 2011 )Access Grid Room
We have all become dependent on large complex systems such as the Internet, smart grids and the bank payment system. Keeping these systems dependable in the face of accidents, errors and malice is one of the most important, and interesting, challenges facing engineers today. It brings not only technical problems of the highest order, but also some intricate economics; how do we persuade firms to invest in spare capacity that will mostly help their competitors offer better service? I'll discuss such problems in two contexts: frauds against payment networks, and the resilience of the Internet. The talk will draw on a recent major study we did for ENISA of the resilience of the Internet interconnect.