A) Who are the major stakeholders associated with Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and UniNETT?
B) What critical resources are stored within the system and what concerns might stakeholders have regarding the resources?
Reader Interactions
Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
The major stakeholders associated with the Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and UniNETT include the University of Oslo (UiO), the scientists and researchers using the Titan cluster, the Norwegian National Security Authority, and various international research organizations that rely on the shared resources provided by Titan. Critical resources stored within the system include extensive computational power (5,004 cores, 40 teraflops), storage (271 terabytes of local storage, 1 petabyte of networked storage), and data supporting high-stakes research in fields like astrophysics, molecular biology, and petroleum reservoir simulations. Stakeholders would be highly concerned about the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the data and computational resources, as any breach could compromise scientific research and lead to significant reputational damage and financial costs.
Major Stakeholders:
Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF):University of Oslo (UiO),other European Universities,European Grid Infrastructure (EGI),Research Collaboratives,scientists and researchers. UniNETT:Norwegian Educational Institutions and UiO and NDGF.
Critical Resources is the Titan Cluster which includes:
A.The computational power with over 5000 cores capable of 40 trillion floating-point operations per second. B. The huge storage of 271 terabytes of local storage and 1 petabyte of networked storage. C. The scientific data from astrophysics, molecular biology, and other fields. D. The user credentials which synchronized across NDGF and EGI, allowing access to multiple systems.
Stakeholder Concerns
UiO: Maintaining the security and availability of Titan, managing costs, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Nordic Universities: Ensuring uninterrupted access to Titan for research, protecting intellectual property, and collaborating effectively. EGI: Maintaining the integrity of the global grid infrastructure and ensuring secure sharing of resources.Researchers: Protecting their research data, ensuring access to computational resources, and collaborating securely.UniNETT: Ensuring the security and reliability of its network infrastructure, protecting user data, and supporting research and education.
A) 1. Research institutions and scientists include NDGF member institutions such as the University of Oslo and the National Supercomputing Center at the University of Link ö ping in Sweden, as well as other research institutions involved in European grid infrastructure UiO management and CERT team 3 UniNETT 4. International Cooperation Organizations: European Organization for Nuclear Research, Nordic Data Grid Facility, etc., relying on Titan’s computing power to support cross-border scientific research collaboration.
b) Key resources: 1 Computing power and storage 2 Research data 3. User credentials and SSH keys
Concerns of stakeholders:
1. Data security and integrity: Attacks may lead to tampering or deletion of scientific research data, affecting the credibility of research
2. System availability: Titan’s shutdown has hindered scientific research progress and prevented it from fulfilling its cooperation obligations to NDGF and EGI, triggering an international trust crisis.
3. Risk of credential leakage: The user password stolen by attackers may be used to access other systems, expanding the security impact.
4. International cooperation trust: If the synchronized database shared across institutions is contaminated, it may threaten the security of the entire grid facility and weaken the trust of partners.
5. Legal and compliance risks: If personal data is involved, it may violate regulations such as the EU General Data Protection Regulation.
A)
The key stakeholders of the Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and uninet as high technology and data processing institutions include:
1. Researchers and academics: They rely on these facilities for big data processing and high-performance computing.
2. Academic institutions: These institutions use the resources of NDGF and uninet for research and education.
3. Government agencies: May be involved in funding, policy development, and regulation.
4. Technology Provider: Hardware, software and maintenance services for NDGF and uninet.
5. User community: includes all users who rely on these facilities for data processing.
B)
Key resources stored in the system include:
1. Research data and results: Researchers and scholars are concerned about the integrity and confidentiality of data.
2. Personal information: including user identity, access rights, etc. Privacy protection is an important concern.
3. Computing resources: high-performance computing and storage capabilities, related to efficiency and availability.
4. Intellectual Property: Patents and Copyrights arising from research, involving intellectual property protection and legal compliance.
Stakeholder concerns for these resources may include data security, privacy protection, service availability, and compliance.
A) Major Stakeholders Associated with NDGF and UniNETT
The major stakeholders include the University of Oslo (UiO) and other participating universities, which rely on the Titan cluster for research; scientific research organizations such as the European Grid Infrastructure (EGI) that depend on NDGF’s computational power; national and international research collaborators who conduct complex simulations and data analysis; UniNETT, which provides the network infrastructure for research institutions; UiO’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), responsible for cybersecurity; and funding agencies and government bodies that support and regulate HPC research. These stakeholders are invested in Titan’s security, reliability, and continued availability to ensure seamless scientific progress.
B) Critical Resources and Stakeholder Concerns
Titan and NDGF store high-value research data, including scientific models, experimental datasets, and computational software, which are crucial for astrophysics, biology, and engineering. Additionally, they house user credentials and access keys, making them a prime target for cyberattacks. Stakeholders are concerned about data corruption, unauthorized access, system downtime, and cyberattack propagation across connected institutions. A security breach could result in lost research, reputational damage, intellectual property theft, and regulatory challenges, making system integrity and cybersecurity a top priority.
A）
And Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) major stakeholders involved include UiO (University of Oslo) : NDGF is a member of the UiO, UiO is responsible for managing the Titan cluster, the cluster is part of the NDGF. UiO CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) is responsible for responding to security incidents related to Titan. Other research institutions: NDGF support, including the large hadron collider (CERN), multiple research cooperation projects, so other European research institutions involved in the project stakeholders. Network and education service providers: NDGF is connected to the national research and education networks, such as UniNETT, therefore UniNETT is one of the stakeholders.
UniNETT related major stakeholders include:
UiO: UiO is part of the UniNETT UniNETT is a dedicated to supporting the research and education community’s Internet service provider. Other institutions of education: UniNETT service Norway education institutions, so these organizations and stakeholders. Research and education community: UniNETT aims to support research and education community, so the members of the community and stakeholders.
B）
Stored in the system of key resources include: molecular biology, DNA sequence analysis, and the computing power needed for petroleum reservoir simulation, these resources is very important to scientific research, because they support the science such as astrophysics research plan. User and password database: this information is vital for users to access the system and protect the data security. Shared network attached storage and network storage: these storage resources for data storage and access is necessary. Data of scientific research cooperation plan: for example, with the European organization for nuclear research (CERN), the large hadron collider (LHC) related to data processing, and many other universities of astrophysics research projects.
Stakeholders may focus on these resources include: data confidentiality: because the data may contain sensitive information, stakeholders may worry about data disclosure or unauthorized access. Data integrity: the stakeholders may be concerned about whether the data been tampered with, because it may affect the accuracy of the results. Data availability: the stakeholders need to make sure that they will be able to access the data at any time, to make the necessary research and analysis.
Users and shareholders are the major stakeholders associated with Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and UniNETT.
Critical resources: usernames, passwords, and SSH access keys of accounts.
Concerns:
Using different usernames and passwords on different websites, and not related to each other.
Improving the difficulty and complexity of passwords
Who are the major stakeholders associated with Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and UniNETT?
The major stakeholders associated with the Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and UniNETT include research institutions, funding bodies, grid partners, individual researchers, administrative bodies, and security teams. These stakeholders rely on NDGF for computational resources, research support, and secure collaboration.
What critical resources are stored within the system and what concerns might stakeholders have regarding the resources?
The system stores critical resources such as high-performance computing clusters, sensitive research data, and user credentials. Stakeholders are concerned about maintaining data integrity and confidentiality, ensuring system availability, protecting user credentials from unauthorized access, preserving the institution’s reputation, and complying with regulatory standards for data protection.
Major stakeholders:
1. Researchers and research institutions: Including the University of Oslo , NDGF member institutions, European Grid Infrastructure partners, and scientists involved in multi-university astrophysics research projects.
2.University management: Responsible for managing research resources and maintaining the university’s reputation.
3.National supercomputing centers: Such as the National Supercomputer Center at Linköping University in Sweden.
4.Educational network service providers: Like UniNETT in Norway, which supports research and education communities.
5.System administrators and IT operations teams: Responsible for maintaining the security and performance of the Titan cluster.
Critical resources stored within the system:
1.Computing resources: The Titan cluster provides over 5000 core processors capable of performing 40 trillion floating-point operations per second, supporting molecular biology research, DNA sequencing analysis, and petroleum reservoir simulations.
2.Storage resources: The system has 271TB of local storage and 1PB of network storage for research data.
3.User accounts and credentials: A large number of researchers’ account information and passwords, synchronized with other systems via NDGF.
Stakeholders’ concerns:
1.Data security and privacy: Research data may contain sensitive information. If leaked or tampered with, it could affect research outcomes and scientists’ reputations.
2.System availability: Downtime of the Titan cluster would halt research activities, affecting research progress and international collaborations.
3.Financial and reputational loss: Attacks could lead to data loss or corruption, increasing recovery costs and damaging the university’s reputation.
4.Risk of attack propagation: Since account credentials are synchronized across systems, an attack could spread to other research institutions and partners.
A. Key Stakeholders of NDGF and uninet
The Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and uninet, as high – tech and data – processing institutions, have several key stakeholders. Researchers and academics depend on these facilities for big data processing and high – performance computing. Academic institutions utilize their resources for research and education. Government agencies may participate in funding, policy – making, and regulation. Technology providers offer hardware, software, and maintenance services. The user community, which consists of all data – processing – relying users, is also a key stakeholder.
B. Key Resources and Stakeholder Concerns
Key Resources
Research data and results, with integrity and confidentiality being crucial for researchers and scholars.
Personal information such as user identity and access rights, where privacy protection is a major concern.
Computing resources, including high – performance computing and storage capabilities, related to efficiency and availability.
Intellectual property like patents and copyrights from research, involving protection and legal compliance.
Stakeholder Concerns
Stakeholders are concerned about data security, privacy protection, service availability, and compliance regarding these resources.
The major stakeholders in the context include the Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF), which involves the University of Oslo (UiO), other European universities, the European Grid Infrastructure (EGI), research collaboratives, and scientists and researchers, as well as UniNETT, which serves Norwegian Educational Institutions, UiO, and NDGF. The critical resource is the Titan Cluster, featuring over 5000 cores with 40 trillion floating – point operations per second, 271 terabytes of local storage and 1 petabyte of networked storage, scientific data from various fields, and synchronized user credentials for multi – system access. Each stakeholder has distinct concerns: UiO focuses on Titan’s security, cost management, and regulatory compliance; Nordic Universities aim for uninterrupted access, intellectual property protection, and effective collaboration; EGI is concerned with global grid infrastructure integrity and secure resource sharing; researchers prioritize data protection, computational resource access, and secure collaboration; and UniNETT is committed to network infrastructure security, user data protection, and support for research and education.
A) The major stakeholders associated with the Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) include various research institutions and universities across Europe, such as the University of Oslo (UiO) and the Spanish university involved in the astrophysics research project. For UniNETT, the major stakeholders are the research and education communities in Norway.
B) The critical resources stored within the system include extensive computational power and shared disk space supporting research in natural sciences and engineering, such as molecular biology research, DNA sequencing analysis, and petroleum reservoir simulations. Stakeholders might be concerned about the security and integrity of these resources, as well as the potential for unauthorized access and data breaches that could compromise sensitive research data and disrupt ongoing scientific projects.
A)
The major stakeholders of NDGF and UniNETT include research institutions like the University of Oslo and Linköping University, scientists using the grid for research, UiO’s CERT team handling security incidents, UiO’s network operations team managing system upgrades, and UniNETT itself as an Internet service provider.
B)
Critical resources: Titan has powerful computational capabilities with over 5000 core processors and 40 trillion floating point operations per second. It also stores 271 terabytes of shared disk space and 1 PetaByte of network – attached storage, along with user account information.
Stakeholder concerns: Scientists worry about resource availability and data integrity for research. UiO and other institutions fear reputational damage and non – compliance. The CERT team focuses on preventing attacks and fixing vulnerabilities. The network operations team balances patch – related risks.
A) Major Stakeholders Associated with NDGF and UniNETT
1. Universities and Research Institutions: For NDGF, universities like the University of Oslo (UiO) and Linköping University are key stakeholders.
2. Scientists: Scientists from multiple European universities involved in collaborative research initiatives, such as those using Titan for their custom research applications, are stakeholders. They depend on the NDGF’s computational power and UniNETT’s network infrastructure to conduct their research effectively.
3. CERT Teams: UiO’s Computer Emergency Response Team (UiO CERT) is a stakeholder for both. In the case of NDGF, they are responsible for ensuring the security of Titan, which is part of NDGF. For UniNETT, CERT teams may be involved in handling security incidents related to the network services it provides.
4. Administrative Bodies: University administrations, like that of UiO, are stakeholders. They need to ensure that the use of NDGF resources and UniNETT services aligns with institutional goals, and also deal with the reputational impact of any security incidents.
B) Critical Resources and Stakeholder Concerns
1. Critical Resources
Computational Power: Titan offers high – performance computing capabilities with over 5000 core processors capable of performing 40 trillion floating point operations per second. There is also a large amount of memory (11 TeraBytes) and extensive storage, including 271 TeraBytes of local storage and 1 PetaByte of networked storage.
2. Stakeholder Concerns
Universities and Research Institutions: They are concerned about the security of research data. A security breach could lead to data theft, tampering, or deletion, which would disrupt research projects and cause financial losses. Reputation is also at stake, as any security incident could affect their standing in the academic community and their relationships with partners.
A)The major stakeholders associated with the Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and UniNETT include:
Research Institutions and Universities:Nordic research institutions and universities.Other research institutions in Norway
Scientists and Researchers:Scientists at organizations like UiO and CERN.Researchers supported by Uninet
Government Departments:Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.Governments of Nordic countries
Research Funding Agencies:Funding agencies for NDGF.Funding agencies for Uninet
Information Security Teams:Security teams at NDGF organizations.Security teams at Uninet
International Research Networks:Other international research partners
B)The system stores several critical resources:：Scientific Data、Computing Resources、Storage Resources、Network Service Data and Research Support Data.
Stakeholders might have the following concerns regarding these resources:
Data Security:Preventing unauthorized access, modification, or leakage of stored data, especially sensitive research data and user information.、Data Privacy:Protecting personal privacy and sensitive information during data sharing and use.、Data Quality、Data Interoperability:Enabling seamless integration and sharing of data across different systems and platforms for global visibility and consistency.、System Reliability and Compliance.
A) The major stakeholders associated with the Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and UniNETT include: Research Institutions and Universities, Government Agencies, Industry Partners, Scientific Communities, IT Service Providers, Funding Agencies, End Users, Policy Makers
B) The critical resources stored within the system managed by NDGF and UniNETT include: Research Data, Computational Resources, Software Tools and Applications, Collaborative Platforms, Metadata.
Concerns that stakeholders might have regarding these resources include:
1. Data Security and Privacy: Ensuring that sensitive research data is protected from unauthorized access and breaches.
2. Compliance and Regulation: Adhering to legal and ethical standards related to data management, particularly concerning cross-border data transfers and international collaborations.
3. Interoperability: Ensuring that diverse systems and tools can work together seamlessly to facilitate smooth data exchange and collaboration.
A) The major stakeholders associated with Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and UniNETT include UiO’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF), European Grid Infrastructure (EGI), Various universities and research institutions across Europe, National Supercomputer Center at Linköping University, UniNETT, and the individual scientists and researchers who use the computational resources of Titan and other NDGF clusters for their research projects.
B) The critical resources stored within the system and the concerns stakeholders might have regarding these resources include Computational Power, Reputation and Trust, User Credentials, Research Collaborations, Data Storage, and User Credentials.
a) Universities and research institutions in Nordic countries
As core members of NDGF, these institutions provide research needs and directly utilize their computing and storage resources. Uninett provides high-speed network connectivity for these institutions, supporting data transmission and collaboration.
International scientific research cooperation projects
Relying on NDGF’s distributed computing capabilities and Unimett’s network infrastructure to process large-scale data such as particle physics experiment data or climate models.
Funding agencies and government entities
Nordic Council: may fund cross-border cooperation projects.
EU research programs (such as Horizon Europe): support pan European research infrastructure.
Education/technology departments of various countries, such as the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, fund the operation of Uninett.
International scientific research cooperation projects
Relying on NDGF’s distributed computing capabilities and Unimett’s network infrastructure to process large-scale data (such as particle physics experiment data or climate models).
Funding agencies and government entities
Nordic Council: may fund cross-border cooperation projects.
EU research programs (such as Horizon Europe): support pan European research infrastructure.
Education/technology departments of various countries, such as the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, fund the operation of Uninett.
b）Key Resources
1) Research data
Types: High energy physics experimental data (such as CERN’s LHC data), genomic data, climate simulation data.
Storage scale: typically PB level, requiring distributed storage solutions such as dCache or XrootD.
2) Computing resources
High performance computing (HPC) cluster: used for complex simulation and data processing.
Virtualization resources: Provide a flexible computing environment through containers such as Docker/Kubernetes.
Concerns of stakeholders
1) Data Security and Privacy
Research institutions: Worried about sensitive data (such as medical genomic data) leakage, encryption and strict access control (such as role-based permission management) are required.
Regulatory authorities: Require compliance with GDPR, especially for cross-border data transfers (such as from Norway to partners outside the European Union).
The major stakeholders associated with the Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) include:1. **Research Organizations*2. **UiO (University of Oslo)*3. **Collaborative Research Initiatives*4. **National Supercomputer Center*5. **Users and Researchers**.
For UniNETT, the major stakeholders include:1. **Educational Institutions**2. **Research Communities**: 3. **Government and Regulatory Bodies**4. **UiO and Other Partner Institutions**
The critical resources stored within the Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and UniNETT systems include:1. **Computational Resources**:2. **Data Storage**: 3. **User Credentials**
.Stakeholders, including researchers, university administrators, and partners in international collaborations, may have several concerns regarding the security and integrity of these resources:1. **Data Breaches*2. **Credential Theft*3. **Operational Disruption*4. **Reputation Damage**:leading to a loss of trust among stakeholders and partners, which is critical for collaborative research efforts.
Overall, the stakeholders are concerned about the potential for significant financial, operational, and reputational damage resulting from security vulnerabilities within the NDGF and UniNETT systems.
The major stakeholders are the University of Oslo , scientists and researchers using the Titan cluster, the Norwegian National Security Authority, and various international research organizations relying on the shared resources of Titan.
The critical resources include extensive computational power (5,004 cores, 40 teraflops), storage (271 terabytes of local storage, 1 petabyte of networked storage), and data for high – stakes research in fields like astrophysics, molecular biology, and petroleum reservoir simulations. Stakeholders are concerned about the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of these resources, as a breach could harm scientific research and cause reputational and financial damage.
A) The Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and UniNETT have overlapping yet distinct sets of major stakeholders. For NDGF, stakeholders include UiO, which manages the Titan cluster as part of NDGF and has its CERT team handling Titan – related security incidents. Other European research institutions, especially those involved in projects supported by NDGF like those related to the Large Hadron Collider (CERN), are also stakeholders. Network and education service providers such as UniNETT are stakeholders as NDGF is connected to national research and education networks.
Regarding UniNETT, its major stakeholders include UiO, which is part of its service scope. Other Norwegian education institutions that receive UniNETT’s services are stakeholders as well. The research and education community, which UniNETT aims to support, also counts as stakeholders. In general, the major stakeholders of NDGF and UniNETT commonly involve research institutions like the University of Oslo and Linköping University, scientists conducting research using the grid, UiO’s CERT and network operations teams, and UniNETT as an Internet service provider.
B)The systems managed by NDGF and UniNETT house crucial resources such as research data, computational resources, software tools and applications, collaborative platforms, and metadata. Additionally, computational power, reputation and trust, user credentials, and research collaborations are also critical resources. Stakeholders have several concerns regarding these resources. They worry about data security and privacy, aiming to safeguard sensitive research data from unauthorized access and breaches. Compliance and regulation are also significant concerns, especially when it comes to following legal and ethical standards in data management, particularly in cross – border data transfers and international collaborations. Moreover, stakeholders emphasize the importance of interoperability, seeking to ensure that different systems and tools can integrate smoothly for efficient data exchange and collaboration.
（1）The major stakeholders of the Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) are diverse. UiO (University of Oslo) is a key one as NDGF is a member of it, and UiO manages the Titan cluster which is part of NDGF, with UiO CERT handling Titan’s security incidents. Other research institutions, like those involved in projects with CERN (such as the large hadron collider), are also stakeholders due to research cooperation. Network and education service providers like UniNETT, which NDGF is connected to, are stakeholders too. For UniNETT, its major stakeholders include UiO (as it’s part of UniNETT), other educational institutions it serves in Norway, and the research and education community it aims to support.
（2）The key resources in the system consist of those for molecular biology, DNA sequence analysis, and petroleum reservoir simulation computing, which are crucial for astrophysics and other scientific research. There’s also a user and password database important for system access and data security, along with shared network attached storage and network storage essential for data handling. Scientific research cooperation plan data, like that related to CERN’s LHC and other astrophysics projects, is present. Stakeholders may be concerned about data confidentiality (due to sensitive info and risks of disclosure or unauthorized access), data integrity (worried about tampering affecting results accuracy), and data availability (needing to access data for research and analysis at any time).
A) Major Stakeholders: The Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and UniNETT involve stakeholders including universities (e.g., University of Oslo, Linköping University), researchers, the European Grid Infrastructure (EGI), government agencies (e.g., Norwegian National Security Authority), and UniNETT itself as a network provider. These entities collaborate to manage and utilize distributed computational resources across Europe.
B) Critical Resources and Concerns: Titan’s system stores critical resources such as 5004 high-performance cores, 40 Teraflops/s processing power, and 1 PB of networked storage, housing sensitive research data (e.g., DNA sequences, astrophysics simulations, petroleum reservoir models). Stakeholders’ concerns include unauthorized access to proprietary data, service disruptions halting scientific progress, reputational damage from security breaches, and potential misuse of computational resources for illegal activities (e.g., cryptojacking, piracy). Ensuring data integrity, availability, and compliance with research partnerships is paramount to maintaining trust and operational continuity.
I. Key stakeholders
Researchers and research institutions
The University of Oslo (UiO), as a member of the NDGF, manages the Titan cluster and its CERT team is responsible for Titan-related security incident response. Many scientists involved in astrophysics research projects at several universities rely on the Titan cluster for their research, and their research results are closely linked to the cluster.
Other research institutions supported by the NDGF, such as European research institutions involved in several research collaborations such as the Large Hadron Collider (CERN), are similarly affected by the Titan cluster’s health.
University management: Universities shoulder the responsibility of managing research resources, such as UiO and other universities, whose management decisions affect the allocation and use of Titan cluster resources. At the same time, the reputation of the school is closely related to the research results. If the cluster security problems lead to research obstruction or data leakage, the reputation of the school will be negatively affected.
National supercomputer centers: For example, the National Supercomputer Center at Linkoping University in Sweden may cooperate with the Titan cluster in terms of resource sharing and technical exchange, and the performance and security status of the Titan cluster may affect the business and cooperative projects associated with it.
Education network service provider
uninet (UniNETT) in Norway is committed to supporting the research and education community by providing networking services to the Titan cluster and associated research institutions. Its service quality affects the efficiency of cluster data transmission and the convenience of resource acquisition for researchers.
As UniNETT serves many educational institutions in Norway, these institutions and their researchers rely on its network to support their work and are stakeholders.
System administrators and IT operations teams: They are responsible for maintaining the security and performance of the Titan cluster and are the key forces to ensure the stable operation of the cluster. Through daily monitoring, deployment of security protection measures, and performance optimization, we ensure that the cluster meets the computing needs of researchers and prevents security risks.
2. Key resources stored in the system
Computing resources: Titan cluster has more than 5,000 core processors, with 40 trillion floating point operations per second, for molecular biology research, DNA sequencing analysis and reservoir simulation and other complex scientific research tasks to provide powerful computing support, is the basis for many scientific research projects to promote.
Storage resource
The local storage of the system is up to 271TB, which is used to store temporary data and data requiring high read and write speed to ensure efficient operation of scientific research tasks.
The network storage of research data is 1PB, which provides long-term storage services for a large number of scientific research data, covers research data in many fields, and is an important carrier for the accumulation and inheritance of scientific research achievements.
User accounts and credentials: The account information and passwords of many researchers are synchronized with other systems through NDGF, which is the key authentication information to ensure legitimate user access to the system and protect data security. If the account credentials are leaked, it may cause a series of security problems and threaten the security of the entire scientific research network.
Stakeholder concerns
Data security and privacy
Research data may contain sensitive information, such as personal genetic data, cutting-edge scientific research results data, etc. Once leaked, not only may violate personal privacy, but also may cause research results to be stolen or improperly used, damage the reputation of scientists, and affect the foundation of trust in scientific research cooperation.
Data tampering will lead to inaccurate research results, make the long-term efforts of researchers go to waste, and seriously affect the progress and quality of scientific research.
System availability: Titan cluster downtime will disrupt research activities that rely on its compute and storage resources. For some time-critical scientific research projects, such as time-sensitive celestial observation data analysis, the best research opportunity may be missed, affecting the progress of international cooperation projects, and damaging the reputation and competitiveness of scientific research institutions in the international scientific research field.
Financial and reputational damage: Data loss or damage caused by an attack requires a large amount of human, material and financial resources to recover the data, increasing the cost of scientific research. At the same time, the exposure of negative events will damage the reputation of universities and related scientific research institutions, affecting the future access to scientific research funds, student enrollment and talent attraction.
Risk of attack propagation: Due to the synchronization of account credentials across systems, once Titan cluster is attacked, attackers may use the leaked credentials to invade other research institutions and partner systems, causing chain security incidents, expanding the scope of security risks, and threatening the ecological security of the entire scientific research network.
I. Major Stakeholders
1. Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF)
– It involves the University of Oslo (UiO), various other European Universities, the European Grid Infrastructure (EGI), Research Collaboratives, as well as scientists and researchers. These entities are all part of the NDGF ecosystem, contributing to and relying on the data – grid – related activities.
2. UniNETT
– Its stakeholders are Norwegian Educational Institutions, along with UiO and NDGF. UniNETT plays a role in connecting and facilitating the network – related services for these educational and research – oriented entities.
II. Critical Resources in the Titan Cluster
1. Computational Power
– The Titan Cluster offers an impressive computational capacity with more than 5000 cores. These cores can perform up to 40 trillion floating – point operations every second, which is crucial for handling complex scientific simulations and data – intensive research tasks.
2. Storage Capacity
– There is a large – scale storage system within the Titan Cluster. It has 271 terabytes of local storage, which can be used for quick access to frequently – used data. Additionally, it has 1 petabyte of networked storage, enabling the storage and sharing of vast amounts of data across the network.
3. Scientific Data
– The cluster houses scientific data from diverse fields such as astrophysics and molecular biology. This data is the result of years of research and is invaluable for further scientific exploration and discovery.
4. User Credentials
– The user credentials are synchronized between NDGF and EGI. This synchronization allows users to access multiple systems, streamlining the access process for researchers and scientists who need to utilize different platforms for their work.
III. Stakeholder Concerns
1. UiO
– UiO is highly concerned with maintaining the security of the Titan Cluster. Given the sensitive nature of the research data and computational resources, security is paramount. They also focus on ensuring the availability of the cluster so that research activities are not interrupted. Cost management is another key aspect, as running and maintaining such a large – scale infrastructure can be expensive. Moreover, UiO has to ensure compliance with various regulations, both local and international, related to data handling and research operations.
2. Nordic Universities
– These universities prioritize ensuring that their researchers have uninterrupted access to the Titan Cluster. Since the cluster’s resources are vital for their research projects, any disruption can delay or even halt important studies. Protecting their intellectual property, which may be generated during the research using the cluster, is also crucial. Additionally, they aim to collaborate effectively with other stakeholders in the NDGF ecosystem to maximize the benefits of the shared resources.
3. EGI
– EGI is mainly focused on maintaining the integrity of the global grid infrastructure. This involves ensuring that all components, including the Titan Cluster, work in harmony with the larger grid. They also strive to enable the secure sharing of resources across different regions and institutions, which is essential for the advancement of international research collaborations.
4. Researchers
– Researchers are deeply concerned with protecting their research data. This data represents their hard – work and findings, and any loss or unauthorized access could be detrimental to their careers and the progress of science. They also need to ensure access to the computational resources of the Titan Cluster to carry out their simulations and analyses. Secure collaboration is another important aspect, as many research projects involve multiple researchers from different institutions.
5. UniNETT
– UniNETT is dedicated to ensuring the security and reliability of its network infrastructure. Since it serves as a connection point for Norwegian Educational Institutions, UiO, and NDGF, a stable and secure network is essential. Protecting user data that travels through its network is also a priority. Additionally, it aims to support research and education activities by providing seamless network services to enable the efficient use of resources like the Titan Cluster.
A) Major Stakeholders of NDGF and UniNETT
The Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) involves several key stakeholders, including:
University of Oslo (UiO)
Other European universities
European Grid Infrastructure (EGI)
Research collaboratives
Scientists and researchers
The UniNETT stakeholders primarily consist of:
Norwegian educational institutions
UiO and NDGF
B) Critical Resources and Stakeholder Concerns
Critical Resources within the System
The Titan Cluster is the primary resource, which includes:
Computational power – Over 5,000 cores, capable of performing 40 trillion floating-point operations per second.
Storage capacity – 271 terabytes of local storage and 1 petabyte of networked storage.
Scientific research data – Data related to astrophysics, molecular biology, and other scientific fields.
User credentials – Synchronized access across NDGF and EGI, enabling seamless login to multiple systems.
A) Major stakeholders associated with NDGF and UniNETT:
The primary stakeholders include users and shareholders of the Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and UniNETT. Users rely on these systems for research, data processing, and computational resources, while shareholders have an interest in ensuring security, efficiency, and continued operation.
B) Critical resources and stakeholder concerns:
The system stores usernames, passwords, and SSH access keys of accounts, which are critical for system access and security.
Stakeholder concerns include:
– Ensuring usernames and passwords are unique and not reused across different websites to prevent credential-stuffing attacks.
– Increasing the **complexity and difficulty of passwords to reduce vulnerability to brute force and phishing attacks.
– Securing SSH access keys to prevent unauthorized access to critical systems and data.
– Implementing **better security policies and timely updates** to protect sensitive resources.
A) Who are the major stakeholders associated with Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and UniNETT?
The major stakeholders associated with NDGF and UniNETT include researchers and scientific institutions that rely on these facilities for computational resources, as well as participating universities like the University of Oslo and the National Supercomputer Center at Linköping University. These stakeholders are primarily concerned with the availability and security of computing resources for research projects. Additionally, international research collaborations such as the European Grid Infrastructure (EGI) and educational authorities in Norway are key stakeholders, focusing on the broader impact of NDGF and UniNETT on scientific progress and educational development. Cybersecurity teams and IT governance bodies are also crucial, as they ensure the protection and efficient management of these critical infrastructures.
B) What critical resources are stored within the system and what concerns might stakeholders have regarding the resources?
The NDGF and UniNETT systems store critical resources such as massive computational power, extensive research data from scientific projects, and shared storage facilities. Stakeholders are likely concerned about the security and integrity of this data, fearing potential breaches that could lead to data loss, corruption, or unauthorized access. They also worry about the availability and reliability of computational resources, as downtime can significantly impact research progress and collaboration efficiency. Additionally, there may be concerns about compliance with data protection regulations and the potential reputational damage to their institutions if a security incident occurs.
A) The Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and UniNETT have different but overlapping stakeholders. NDGF’s key stakeholders include research institutions like the University of Oslo (UiO), which manages the Titan cluster and its security. Other European research institutions, especially those involved in NDGF-supported projects like CERN, are also important. UniNETT mainly serves Norwegian universities and research communities as an internet provider for research and education. Both organizations share common stakeholders, including UiO, Linköping University, scientists using the grid, and network teams.
B) Their systems store important resources such as research data, computing power, software tools, and collaboration platforms. Other key assets include reputation, trust, and research partnerships. Stakeholders are mainly concerned about data security, privacy, legal compliance, and smooth system integration. These systems support research in areas like molecular biology, DNA sequencing, and petroleum studies, making security and reliability crucial.
The primary parties involved with the Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) and UniNETT encompass the University of Oslo (UiO), the scientists and researchers utilizing the Titan cluster, the Norwegian National Security Authority, and various international research bodies that depend on the shared resources of Titan. The system houses vital resources such as substantial computational power (5,004 cores, 40 teraflops), storage (271 terabytes of local storage, 1 petabyte of networked storage), and data pivotal to high-stakes research in areas such as astrophysics, molecular biology, and petroleum reservoir simulations. Stakeholders would be deeply concerned about the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the data and computational resources, as any security breach could undermine scientific research and result in considerable reputational harm and financial repercussions.