Volgenau School of Engineering Graduate Research
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Browsing Volgenau School of Engineering Graduate Research by Author "Alghamdi, Ahmad"
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Item Creating a Digital Twin of an Insider Threat Detection Enterprise Using Model-Based Systems Engineering(2022 IEEE International Systems Conference (SysCon), 2022-04) Lee, James; Alghamdi, Ahmad; Zaidi, Abbas K.Inference Enterprise Modeling (IEM) is a methodology developed to address test and evaluation limitations that insider threat detection enterprises face due to a lack of ground truth and/or missing data. IEM uses a collection of statistical, data processing, analysis, and machine learning techniques to estimate and forecast the performance of these enterprises. As part of developing the IEM method, models satisfying various detection system evaluation requirements were created. In this work, we extend IEM as a digital twin generation technique by representing modeled processes as executable UML Activity Diagrams and tracing solution processes to problem requirements using ontologies. Using the proposed framework, we can rapidly prototype a digital twin of a detection system that can also be imported and executed in systems engineering simulation software tools such as Cameo Enterprise Architecture Simulation Toolkit. Cyber security and threat detection is a continuous process that requires regular maintenance and testing throughout its lifecycle, but there often exists access issues for sensitive and private data and proprietary detection model details to perform adequate test and evaluation activities in the live production environment. To solve this issue, organizations can use a digital twin technique to create a real-time virtual counterpart of the physical system. We describe a method for creating digital twins of live and/or hypothetical insider threat detection enterprises for the purpose of performing test and evaluation activities on continuous monitoring systems that are sensitive to disruptions. In this work, we use UML Activity Diagrams to leverage the integrated simulation capabilities of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).Item Employing UAF Inter-Domain Traceability for Performance and Effectiveness Evaluation(2023-03-25) Alghamdi, Ahmad; Torkjazi, Mohammadreza; Davila-Andino, Arturo J.; Zaidi, Abbas K.We propose a step-by-step Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) process for the creation and simulation of an executable Unified Architecture Framework (UAF) model for evaluation purposes. The roll-up of Technical Performance Measures (TPMs) to Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs) is necessary for such a process, and has not been documented for the UAF. This paper is the first attempt to address this gap by demonstrating how interdependencies between these technical measures can be traced across the domains of a UAF architecture according to the ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2015 standard, the guidelines from the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook, and the UAF Enterprise Architecture Guide. The proposed process employs traceability and parametric diagrams within the UAF to produce an executable model that aids in evaluating the effectiveness of a system’s architecture. Additionally, we describe how to build a simulation within the UAF to assess a parametric diagram containing random values of TPMs. The process identifies UAF views, their constituent model elements, and the relationships that are required to build this model. We also present an illustrative example of a forest firefighting system to demonstrate the implementation and effectiveness of the proposed process. This paper is intended as a resource for systems engineering practitioners.Item UAF Strategic Planning for Enterprises(IEEE, 2022-11-24) Torkjazi, Mohammadreza; Davila-Andino, Arturo J.; Alghamdi, Ahmad; Zaidi, Abbas K.In this paper, we propose an extension to the Unified Architecture Framework (UAF) Profile to leverage the potential of the widely used SWOT analysis in modeling the UAF strategic viewpoint of an enterprise or System of Systems (SoS). This novel methodology assists with capturing the capabilities an enterprise needs to achieve its goals through the SWOT analysis. Capabilities are key elements in the UAF Strategic viewpoint. Previous works for identifying capabilities only showcase the resulting strategic views without interpreting their ties to the UAF strategic elements. The absence of a common methodology for incorporating strategic planning into the UAF is a potential deterrent for enterprises to accept the UAF. To address this gap, we propose using the SWOT analysis as an established method of strategic planning that has been used for many years in various enterprises. The four SWOT elements, i.e., Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat, are comparable to the UAF strategic elements Challenge and Opportunity which are the basis for capturing the enterprise capabilities. We extend the UAF profile to enable SWOT elements in the UAF and provide dependency relationships to illustrate traceability between SWOT elements and capabilities. This paper provides two key contributions. First, this work extends the UAF Profile to identify capabilities from SWOT analysis which takes both internal and external conditions of the enterprise into account. Second, we develop the methodology to create the necessary views which trace the SWOT elements to the stakeholders and capabilities. The proposed method is one that enterprises and SoS managers can employ to adopt UAF with minimal to no disruption to their current business processes. We also demonstrate a seamless integration of the SWOT analysis into the UAF. Finally, we use an illustrative example of a hypothetical enterprise to demonstrate the new SWOT diagrams enabled through the proposed extension.