Use of Knowledge Graphs in Cybersecurity Operations Management
This project will focus on enhancing threat correlation, response, and mitigation workflows in Security Operations Management by introducing a novel knowledge graph-based solution aimed at optimizing decision-making processes.
Research Opportunities
Summary
Knowledge graphs offer a transformative approach to Security Operations Management (SOM) in cybersecurity, enabling the modelling of complex relationships between entities such as users, devices, networks, and security incidents. By capturing associations among systems, products, threats, and vulnerabilities, knowledge graphs facilitate predictive insights and enhanced situational awareness. For example, they can map known attack patterns, helping security teams quickly identify and respond to suspicious behaviours. During incidents, these graphs reveal connections between affected systems and malicious actors, enabling prioritized, data-driven responses. Furthermore, by mapping software dependencies, security teams can pinpoint critical nodes to prevent vulnerabilities from cascading across systems.
Aims
Model Complex Attack Paths for Enhanced Decision-Making: Use knowledge graphs to represent intricate attack paths, facilitating quicker identification of critical relationships between entities (e.g., devices, users, IP addresses) and supporting faster, more accurate threat detection. This approach aims to minimize manual correlation of alerts, accelerating response times and improving overall security posture.
Automate Threat Correlation and Vulnerability Identification: Leverage the graph structure to automatically identify high-risk entities and dependencies, streamlining the process of threat response and mitigation and enabling proactive vulnerability management.
Methods
Our method leverages existing threat databases to construct a threat knowledge graph and applies a machine learning and advanced graph mining technique to predict unseen or potential associations between entities within the graph. These predictions will provide valuable input for defensive security management tasks, enhancing the identification of emerging threats and vulnerabilities.
Expected candidate
The ideal candidate should possess strong research skills and have experience and expertise in Machine Learning and Cybersecurity. Experience in ontology engineering and Software Engineering is also preferred.
Reference
Supervisors
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Research Themes
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We welcome specific ideas from applicants for a potential research degree topic. The University offers a number of potential self-funded topics in each School which you could consider developing your research project around.
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Entry requirements
Entry Requirements for Research Degrees
Normal entry requirements are a first or upper second class honours degree from a University of the United Kingdom, or from an overseas University, or degree equivalent qualification, subject to the approval of Robert Gordon University.
Applicants holding other qualifications shall be considered on their merits and in relation to the nature and scope of the proposed research programme.
Applicants will normally register for an MSc/PhD or MRes/PhD with transfer to PhD dependent on satisfactory progress. However, applicants who already possess a Master’s degree which includes a significant research component could be registered directly for a PhD, subject to a satisfactory research proposal, and clear evidence of research expertise.
Some Research Degree Topics require employment experience, research experience and/or transcripts for international qualifications.
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English Language
Any applicant whose first language or language of previous University-level instruction is not English must normally demonstrate competence in English. This should be a score of IELTS 6.5 with 6.5 in all elements, or an approved equivalent.
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Fees & Costs
For Academic Year 2024/2025
UK/EU Students
- Full time - £4,786 per academic year
- Part time MPhil/PhD - £2,870 per academic year
- Part time MRes/MSc by research - £2,390 per academic year
International Students
- Full time - £19,450 per academic year
- Part-time MPhil/PhD - £11,670 per academic year
- Part-time MRes/MSc by research - £9,720 per academic year
For Academic Year 2023/2024
UK/EU Students
- Full time - £4,712 per academic year
- Part time MPhil/PhD - £2,830 per academic year
- Part time MRes/MSc by research - £2,356 per academic year
International Students
- Full time - £18,700 per academic year
- Part-time MPhil/PhD - £11,220 per academic year
- Part-time MRes/MSc by research - £9,350 per academic year
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How to Apply
Applications
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Our Research degrees usually start in February and October each year. There are no formal deadlines for you to submit your application, though we recommend you submit it as early as possible in order to ensure we can help you join us at your preferred time.
Completed application forms should be accompanied by:
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- A short research proposal, in the range of 1,500 - 3,000 words, containing a rationale and background, study aims and objectives, a literature review, proposed research methods and a full reference list.
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