A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between Cardiff University and Airbus which developed new ways of measuring the robustness of Artificial Intelligence decisions on real time cyber attack detection, has been graded 'outstanding' by Innovate UK.
The AI focussed project with the global tech giant, has further strengthened the strategic alliance between Airbus and the University, as they collaborate on a range of cyber innovation and research activities.
The project received funding via an enhanced Knowledge Transfer Partnership (eKTP) awarded by Welsh Government and Innovate UK and enabled Airbus to work closely with Cardiff University's Centre for Cyber Security Research (CCSR), a leading UK academic research unit for cyber security analytics.
The eKTP sought to develop the first evidence-based, robust and explainable AI technology to detect and predict malicious cyber-attacks in Airbus, enhancing the adoption of its detection and response capabilities.
An Associate, Matthew Hopkins, managed the project, working in the Airbus Cyber Lab in Newport, to embed the new knowledge and capability into Airbus' frontline cybersecurity operations that protect 130,000 employees across Europe from Toulouse.
As well as developing Airbus' understanding in 'explaining' the decision an AI makes, the eKTP has developed evidence-based novel methods to test the resilience of AI methods to detect evolving cyber attack techniques that tend to change over time, as well as resistance to attempts to 'confuse' the AI by manipulating the algorithms into making an incorrect decision. The KTP has provided a mechanism whereby problems with Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning model reliability can be revealed and understood, and therefore remedied. This has increased the reliability and security of models being developed at present, and has also increased the probability that future Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning-containing services will be more reliable and secure.
This is a cutting edge risk-based approach to robust and explainable AI technology and a huge leap in business resilience. The new approach and knowledge gained from the project, could reduce the potential significant costs for victims of cyber-attacks and add to the company's leading expertise not just in the use of AI to improve cyber security, but also in the robustness of AI deployed all across the business.
Matthew has also positioned themselves as a leader in this area through various talks internally and externally and has since gained employment in this field.
Angela Smith, Head of Cyber Innovation, Airbus, said:
"The KTP has facilitated a prolonged focus on a particularly difficult technical topic, which is making a real change to the way Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning are used in the organisation. This is in both practical terms, and also cultural across the specialist community."
Professor Pete Burnap, Professor of Data Science & Cybersecurity, Cardiff School of Computer Science and Informatics, Director of the Wales Cyber Innovation Hub and Co-director of the Cardiff University Digital Transformation Institute , led on this eKTP project.
"The eKTP gave us the time and access to a global business to understand concerns around AI robustness, and to validate an approach that may be acceptable to help mitigate concerns around the safe and secure deployment of AI. This is massive in terms of global adoption of AI, which can still be seen as a mystery to many organisations"
Cardiff University and Airbus have worked on shared cybersecurity projects for over a decade, jointly launching the Airbus Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Analytics , in 2017 and the Airbus Centre of Excellence in Human Centric Cyber Security in 2020. Their multidisciplinary collaboration covers areas of mutual interest including artificial intelligence for cybersecurity, advanced risk and impact modelling, and the human factors associated with cybersecurity and decision making in security operations.
The eKTP has further promoted Wales' reputation for cyber excellence and support its aims to lead on cyber security research initiatives and academic research partnerships.
Rebecca Evans, Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, said:
"Cyber security is a real strength for the Welsh economy, driven in part by strong industry-academic partnerships focused on tackling real-world problems. This is a fantastic example of these partnerships in action, demonstrating the value of KTPs in connecting businesses to research-based expertise to support collaborative innovation."
"KTPs are an important part of the Welsh innovation ecosystem and, with enhanced support from the Welsh Government now available, I encourage any organisation with an innovative idea to take advantage of this programme and realise the benefits themselves."
