A Middleware Improved Technology (MIT) to Mitigate Interdependencies between Critical Infrastructures

Abstract

Public life, economy and society as a whole depend to a very large extend on the proper functioning of critical infrastructures (CIs) like energy supply or telecommunication. The extensive use of information and communication technologies (ICT) has pervaded the critical infrastructures, rendering them more intelligent but even increasingly interconnected, complex, interdependent, and therefore more vulnerable. In this paper a new technology (MIT - Middleware Improvement Technology) is proposed: it is based on a collection of software components aiming at enhancing the dependability, the survivability and the resilience of LCCIs (Large Complex Critical Infrastructures) by mitigating dependency and interdependency effects. It should prevent and limit cascading effects and/or support automated (if possible) recovery and service continuity in critical situations. The research activities and results described in the paper have been developed inside EU/FP6 Integrated Project IRRIIS - Integrated Risk Reduction of Information-based Infrastructure Systems.