Collaborative Research: CyberTraining: Pilot: A Zero Trust-Based Security Training Program in Open RAN Cyberinfrastructure
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Project Information
- Award numbers: NSF OAC-2612539
- Project period: 10/01/2026 – 09/30/2028
- Principal investigator: Dr. Yuchen Liu (PI), Dr. Vijay Shah (Co-PI)
- Graduate students: TBD
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Project Overview
- The Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) has emerged as a transformative advancement in the cyberinfrastructure (CI) of cellular systems, driven by its support for open interfaces, modular architectures, and vendor-agnostic interoperability. These characteristics promote innovation, reduce operational costs, and enable the development of new applications and services, establishing O-RAN as a foundational element in future mobile network deployments. However, the shift from traditional RAN to O-RAN CI also induces a fundamental rethinking of security frameworks. Static security measures employed in conventional RAN systems are inadequate for O-RAN’s distributed architecture, dynamic operations, and multi-vendor ecosystems. To address these challenges, Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), based on the principle of ``never trust, always verify”, offers a security model that aligns closely with the unique needs of O-RAN CI. This project aims to develop a program to train the future workforce in integrating zero-trust authentication principles and practical strategies into Open RAN cyberinfrastructure, enhancing its resilience against diverse cyber threats.
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