Software Libraries & Frameworks
Network & System Security
New approaches to develop software libraries and frameworks that provide common services and security are being addressed by SwRI engineers.
The lightweight middleware library being developed by SwRI engineers eliminates negative side effects of increased code complexity and high runtime overhead.
Two popular approaches used to enhance application security are build-it-right and remediation. Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) engineers are developing new techniques that fall within these two areas.
Build-it-Right
SwRI engineers are investigating new approaches in developing software libraries and frameworks that provide common services that include security in the design from the ground up. This research and development is consistent with the “build-it-right” approach, which mitigates and even eliminates many vulnerabilities during application development.
Lightweight Middleware Library
Research efforts at SwRI are focused on significantly hardening applications for security while eliminating the negative side effects of:
- Increased code complexity
- High runtime overhead
One example of such a security solution is the lightweight middleware library being developed by SwRI. The lightweight middleware library provides secure remote communication with these additional benefits:
- Easily composable within the application
- Low runtime and memory overhead
- Data encryption and authentication
- Tamper-proof software features
The library has many default security features built in and can be used as easily as CORBA or Java RMI. As an added benefit, it is more lightweight, so it can be used in small embedded systems with rigid performance and memory overhead constraints.
Related Terminology
buffer overflow • authentication • data encryption • tamper-proof software • code obfuscation • data dithering • denial of service
