RESEARCH PAPER
Modelling computer networks for further security research
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1
Doctoral School for Safety and Security Sciences, Obuda University, Hungary
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Czech CyberCrime Centre of Excellence C4e, Masaryk University, Czech Republic
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Department of Management and Business Economics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary
Submission date: 2021-07-23
Final revision date: 2021-08-12
Acceptance date: 2021-08-24
Online publication date: 2021-10-11
Publication date: 2021-10-11
Corresponding author
Tamás Szádeczky
Czech CyberCrime Centre of Excellence C4e, Masaryk University, 9 Zerotinovo nam., CZ-601 77, Brno, Czech Republic
Security and Defence Quarterly 2021;36(4):51-66
KEYWORDS
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ABSTRACT
Computer networks are usually modelled from one aspect, e.g., the physical layer of the network, although this does not allow the
researcher to understand all usage of that device. We aim to develop a model which leverages all aspects of a networked computer and,
therefore, provides complete information to the scientist for all further security research, especially that related to the social sciences.
Network science is about the analysis of any network, from social to protein. It is much easier to analyse computer networks with
technical tools than protein networks. It is, therefore, a straightforward way to crawl the web as Albert-Laszlo Barabasi did to model
its connections, nodes, and links in graph theory to analyse its internal connections. His analysis was based solely on the network layer.
Our methodology uses graph theory and network science and integrates all ISO/OSI (computer networking) layers into the model.
Each layer of the ISO/OSI model has its topology separately, but all of them also work as part of the complex system to operate the
network. It therefore creates a multipartite graph of the network under analysis. Furthermore, the virtual private networks (VPNs)
and application usage are also integrated as nodes and links. With this model, the computer network infrastructure and usage data can
be used for further non-computing related research, e.g., social science research, as it includes the usage patterns of the network users.
FUNDING
This research was supported by the ERDF project “CyberSecurity, CyberCrime and Critical Information Infrastructures Center of Excellence” (No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000822).
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.