Cyber Defender

The Cyber Defender program, developed for the US Army – CCDC Science and Technology (S&T), represents a cutting-edge approach to cybersecurity. This innovative system leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to create a predictive and adaptive defense mechanism against cyber threats. At its core, Cyber Defender employs an AI-based architecture that detects and prevents intrusions and continuously evolves to counter emerging threats. One of the program's most notable features is its use of game theory in AI development. This approach enables the system to train an adversarial AI to penetrate networks while simultaneously training a defender AI to impede these attacks. This dual-training methodology results in a robust, self-improving security system capable of identifying rare anomalies and automatically warning against and blocking adversary intrusions. Cyber Defender addresses several critical challenges in current cybersecurity practices. These include the overwhelming volume of security-related data, a shortage of qualified personnel for management and intrusion detection, high false positive rates that burden analysts, and delayed reporting of security risks. The system's efficiency is particularly evident in its performance metrics, showing a 96% improvement in cyber threat detection compared to other documented methods and significant reductions in missed threats and false positives. The program's effectiveness extends to various types of cyber attacks, including native response injection, cyber response injection, state command injection, parameter command injection, function code injection, and denial of service attacks. It's specifically designed to protect critical infrastructure, focusing on SCADA systems, often vulnerable to cyber penetration. With modern cybersecurity best practices, Cyber Defender incorporates five of the seven Zero- Trust Pillars: User Behaviors, Next-gen Firewall, Event-Driven, real-time Decisions, and Automation. This comprehensive approach ensures a multifaceted defense strategy against sophisticated cyber threats. The development of Cyber Defender was prompted by warnings from the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, highlighting the risks of not utilizing AI in defense against AI-capable adversaries. By operating at machine speeds and executing processes millions of times faster than human experts, Cyber Defender represents a significant leap forward in cybersecurity technology, positioning it as a crucial tool in the ongoing battle against evolving cyber threats.