Modeling Network Security: Case Study of Email System

Abstract

We study operational security in computer network security, including infrastructure, internal processes, resources, information, and physical environment. Current works on developing a security framework focus on a security ontology that contributes to applying common vocabulary, but such an approach does not assist in constructing a foundation for a holistic security methodology. We focus on defining the bounds and creating a representation of a security system by developing a diagrammatic representation (i.e. a model) as a means to describe computer network processes. The model, referred to a thinging machine, is a first step toward developing a security strategy and plan. The general aim is to demonstrate that the representation of the security system plays a key role in making thinking visible through conceptual description of the operational environment, a region in which active security operations are undertaken. We apply the proposed model for email security by conceptually describing a real email system.

Conceptual Temporal Modeling Applied to Databases

“…-the current location of the qualified driver (20). The current locations of drivers ( 21) are updated continuously via satellite (22).…”

“…The temporal data of such activities will be handled in the events model. b) Transactions ( 18): A customer requests a transaction (19); hence, the request moves to the system (20 and 21), where it is processed (22). Additionally, the customer provides the transaction request (22), which flows to the system (23).…”

“…b) Transactions ( 18): A customer requests a transaction (19); hence, the request moves to the system (20 and 21), where it is processed (22). Additionally, the customer provides the transaction request (22), which flows to the system (23). Based on the transaction type (21), the input amount is directed (24) to the transfer (25 and 26), withdraw (27 and 28), or deposit module (29 and 30).…”

“…The TM model articulates the ontology of the world in terms of an entity that is simultaneously a thing and a machine, called a thimac [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. A thimac is like a doublesided coin.…”

Three Levels of Modeling: Static (Structure/Trajectories of Flow), Dynamic (Events) and Behavioral (Chronology of Events)

“…This section will briefly review the TM model to establish TM as a foundation to study behavior. A more elaborate discussion of TM's philosophical foundation can be found in [14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”