Internet, heal thyself
- By Diane Frank
- Mar 09, 2000
The best way to secure the Internet is to create a self-healing network,
said Raj Reddy, co-chairman of the President's Information Technology Advisory
Committee (PITAC) and a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University.
In testimony last week before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation
Committee's Communications Subcommittee, Reddy said such a network would
catch problems as they occur.
"A self-healing network would work similar to the human immune system,"
he said. "It would constantly monitor the system, analyze what is in the
system, and if it finds something wrong within the system, immediately begin
actions to remedy the problem."
Reddy testified on how to better secure the Internet. To develop the
technology for a more dependable Internet, Reddy urged the federal government
to fund a national network test bed. The arrangement would be similar to
the partnership created by several federal agencies and universities to
develop and test the high-speed Next Generation Internet.
The concept of survivability — ensuring that services are available when
needed and that information is delivered in a timely fashion — runs through
many of the funding recommendations in PITAC's February 1999 report to the
president, "Information Technology Research: Investing in Our Future." PITAC
is reviewing federal research plans and will issue new recommendations later
this year.