Phd Position in Trust, Privacy, & Security for 6G

Topic name: Trust management in new generation networks

Context

While the adoption of 5G networks has spurred the increase of bandwidth for enhanced mobile broadband, the Massive Machine Type Communication and the Ultra-Reliable and Low-latency Communication, 6G is foreseen as an evolutionary paradigm integrating the ‘’Human in the loop” principle. Approaches such as “Intent-based networking” [1] and “Zero- touch management” [2] are expected to integrate the mobile-service subscribers at the very heart of the configuration of the networks to proactively adapt their architecture to cope with their consumption with minimal human intervention.

This vision of automation capitalises on the research efforts for network orchestration. It applies the principle of autonomic computing to the management of softwarised network appliances, such as Software-defined Networking (SDN) [3] and Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) [4] to facilitate the deployment, the optimisation and resilience of the network while minimising the operational expenditure.

However, the automated modifications of the network building blocks sparkle several issues regarding the security and privacy of the subscribers’ communications. The evolution of the software deployment can expose the infrastructure to vulnerable states if not careful security management is applied, fostering threat occurrences hampering the harmlessness of networks. Moreover, this could also jeopardise the privacy of the subscribers, as communications convey personal data potentially to be exposed in case of attacks, representing also a legal issue for the operator.

Topic

The overall aim of this thesis is to propose, evaluate and implement novel strategies for maintaining 6G network infrastructures in trusted states all across their operation. They will tackle the security of network infrastructures and appliances operating them all across their lifecycle, from deployment to deallocation to sustain security and privacy protection. The elaborated approach will integrate with the forethought specificities of 6G networks such as the involvement of multiple entities defined by their own security models, the wide distribution of heterogeneous hardware resources in the cloud-to-edge continuum (network-of-networks), and the native usage of AI to support service management. Specifically, this strategy should respond to the Zero-touch network management featuring the ultra automation and resource optimisation fueled by network-level AI analytics. The security model should be interoperable to constitute an aggregable security and privacy specification covering the whole infrastructure and security services (e.g. access control, identity management). The enforcement of the security model can be achieved via the auto-configuration of security enablers located at different places of the network topology.

The PhD student will be in charge of:

• Realising a survey on security and privacy management in virtualized networks,
• Pinpointing, documenting and prioritising a set of scientific and technical locks affecting the harmlessness of virtualised network operation,
• Proposing innovative approaches overcoming identified locks to strengthen the privacy-preservation and security in the future 6G networks,
• Develop a validation prototype and conduct evaluation work on adequate testbed,
• Participating in the 6GENABLER project (meeting, deliverables, etc).

Environment

The selected candidate will be jointly mentored by a university professor and a senior researcher from the cybersec department of i2CAT during 3 years. After having established a state of the art, the selected candidate will conceive, implement algorithmically and architecturally different strategies for the privacy and security orchestration in 6G networks. These strategies will be evaluated through the analysis and the prototyping in a network testbed, such as 5GBarcelona [5].
During the PhD program, the candidate will publish his work in scientific conferences, and may contribute to patents.
The PhD position is fully funded by the 6GENABLERS project (TSI-063000-2021-13) under the Spanish UNICO program. Funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU.
Application

> Interested people are requested to send an expression of interest by submitting:

• A curriculum vitae, highlighting research experiences
• A research statement (2-pages) showing motivation in the topic of the position,
• The official Transcripts of Records of all graduate studies. Possibly, with ranking, and
• Optionally, some recommendation letters.

References

[1] E. Zeydan and Y. Turk, “Recent Advances in Intent-Based Networking: A Survey,” in 2020 IEEE 91st Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC2020-Spring), May 2020, pp. 1–5. doi: 10.1109/VTC2020-Spring48590.2020.9128422.
[2] C. Benzaid and T. Taleb, “AI-Driven Zero Touch Network and Service Management in 5G and Beyond: Challenges and Research Directions,” IEEE Network, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 186–194, Mar. 2020, doi: 10.1109/MNET.001.1900252.
[3] S. Scott-Hayward, G. O’Callaghan, and S. Sezer, “Sdn Security: A Survey,” in 2013 IEEE SDN for Future Networks and Services (SDN4FNS), Nov. 2013, pp. 1–7. doi: 10.1109/SDN4FNS.2013.6702553.
[4] N. Operators, “Network functions virtualization, an introduction, benefits, enablers, challenges and call for action,” 2012.
[5] “5G Barcelona, 5G hub for Southern Europe,” Oct. 17, 2018. https://5gbarcelona.org/ (accessed Mar. 03, 2022).

Who we are:

The i2CAT Foundation is a non-profit research and innovation center that promotes mission-driven R&D activities on advanced Internet architectures, applications, and services. More than 15 years of international research define our expertise in the fields of 5G, IoT,  VR,  and  Immersive  Technologies,  Cybersecurity,  Blockchain,  AI,  and  Digital  Social Innovation. The  center  partners  with  companies,  public  administration,  academia,  and  end-users   to leverage   this   knowledge   in   order   to   meet   real   social   and   business   challenges.

The greatest value of i2CAT is the talent of the people who make up our human team. We enjoy a team of people from more than 13 different nationalities and work every day to create and foster a work environment where we all feel comfortable creating, innovating and growing.

Want to know more? Visit our webpage! www.i2cat.net

What do we offer?

• Work from our offices or from home, whichever works best for you. We ask for two days in person at the office to coordinate with the rest of the team.
• This is a full time vacancy
• You will have a flexible work schedule so that you can reconcile your personal life with the professional one.
• Intensive hours every Friday of the year and every day in July and August
• Fix + variable salary
• Possibility of receiving part of your remuneration in kind (restaurant, transport, nursery or medical insurance)
• 25 working days of annual leave (the common 22 + 3 additional ones)
• You can access the UPC gym at a reduced price
• We have fruit in the office to promote a healthy lifestyle
• If you are interested, you can participate in events of your sector.
• You will work with a laptop. You can choose your work environment, Mac, Linux or Windows.
• You can ask us for training of your interest.
• We will work so that you have a career plan to promote your growth and development.

Where will you do it?

At i2CAT we already have an established telework policy for some time. You can work from home or from the office, whichever suits you best. We ask that you attend the office two days per week, one to stay connected with the team and the other one to establish relations.

If you decide to come to the office, we are located in Zona Universitària, next to the Campus Nord of the UPC, within a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment. It is a very well connected area (metro, tram, bus) with bars and restaurants around.

Our offices are designed with an open-office concept where everything is light and transparency (we do not have opaque rooms). We have a variety of workspaces so that you don't have to be at the same table all day.

i2CAT is an organization committed to equal opportunities. That is why we seek to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented, and therefore explicitly encourage the female collective to apply.

i2CAT is an organization committed to diversity and we seek to increase the number of people with disabilities in our team.

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