An anomaly detection framework for cyber-security data
File(s)MEvangelou.pdf (798.82 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Evangelou, Marina
Adams, Niall
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Data-driven anomaly detection systems unrivalled potential as complementary defence systems to existing signature-based tools as the number of cyber attacks increases. In this manuscript an anomaly detection system is presented that detects any abnormal deviations from the normal behaviour of an individual device. Device behaviour is defined as the number of network traffic events involving the device of interest observed within a pre-specified time period. The behaviour of each device at normal state is modelled to depend on its observed historic behaviour. A number of statistical and machine learning approaches are explored for modelling this relationship and through a comparative study, the Quantile Regression Forests approach is found to have the best predictive power. Based on the prediction intervals of the Quantile Regression Forests an anomaly detection system is proposed that characterises as abnormal, any observed behaviour outside of these intervals. A series of experiments for contaminating normal device behaviour are presented for examining the performance of the anomaly detection system. Through the conducted analysis the proposed anomaly detection system is found to outperform two other detection systems. The presented work has been conducted on two enterprise networks.
Date Issued
2020-10
Date Acceptance
2020-06-17
Citation
Computers and Security, 2020, 97, pp.1-10
ISSN
0167-4048
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
1
End Page
10
Journal / Book Title
Computers and Security
Volume
97
Copyright Statement
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167404820302170
Subjects
Strategic, Defence & Security Studies
08 Information and Computing Sciences
Publication Status
Published online
Date Publish Online
2020-06-26