Daniel Gonzales

Cloud-Trust—a Security Assessment Model for Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Clouds

The vulnerability of cloud computing systems (CCSs) to advanced persistent threats (APTs) is a significant concern to government and industry. We present a cloud architecture reference model that incorporates a wide range of security controls and best practices, and a cloud security assessment model—Cloud-Trust—that estimates high level security metrics to quantify the degree of confidentiality and integrity offered by a CCS or cloud service provider (CSP). Cloud-Trust is used to assess the security level of four multi-tenant IaaS cloud architectures equipped with alternative cloud security controls. Results show the probability of CCS penetration (high value data compromise) is high if a minimal set of security controls are implemented. CCS penetration probability drops substantially if a cloud defense in depth security architecture is adopted that protects virtual machine (VM) images at rest, strengthens CSP and cloud tenant system administrator access controls, and which employs other network security controls to minimize cloud network surveillance and discovery of live VMs.

Development, production and life cycle cost assessments for a military transatmospheric vehicle (TAV)

Transatmospheric Vehicles (TAVs) are envisioned as a new type of reusable launch vehicle (RLV) which could insert themselves or payloads into low earth orbit (LEO) or deliver payloads to distant targets within minutes. Such a vehicle may carry out military, civil, and commercial missions. This paper focuses specifically on two promising military TAV design concepts. Research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) costs are estimated for these concepts which include producing both demonstrator and prototype (i.e., X and Y) vehicles during the development phase. A total life cycle cost (LCC) budget forecast is generated for one TAV and for a fleet of six operational military TAVs. The total number of TAV launches provided over the assumed service life of the vehicle fleet are compared to the number provided by an expendable launch vehicle (ELV) for the same total projected budget. The costing methodology used is described along with suggested implementation strategies that could potentially reduce the level of government investment needed for this system acquisition.Transatmospheric Vehicles (TAVs) are envisioned as a new type of reusable launch vehicle (RLV) which could insert themselves or payloads into low earth orbit (LEO) or deliver payloads to distant targets within minutes. Such a vehicle may carry out military, civil, and commercial missions. This paper focuses specifically on two promising military TAV design concepts. Research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) costs are estimated for these concepts which include producing both demonstrator and prototype (i.e., X and Y) vehicles during the development phase. A total life cycle cost (LCC) budget forecast is generated for one TAV and for a fleet of six operational military TAVs. The total number of TAV launches provided over the assumed service life of the vehicle fleet are compared to the number provided by an expendable launch vehicle (ELV) for the same total projected budget. The costing methodology used is described along with suggested implementation strategies that could potentially reduce the le...