DEWC Services, the University of Adelaide and Defence Trailblazer are collaborating on a new research project focused on protecting container-based cloud environments.

The project will leverage AI-driven security to create a system that can automatically adjust and defend against new and changing cyber threats. The team will explore Moving Target Defence (MTD) which disrupts adversarial attacks by continuously modifying the attack surface, making it harder for attackers to penetrate systems.

Director – S&T at DEWC Services, Dr Tim McKay, explains that while MTD has been investigated extensively in cyber security research, this research will aim to overcome previous limitations of the technology.

“The integration of reinforcement learning (RL) into Hybrid MTD represents a major step forward in cyber resilience. By enabling an AI-driven approach, we can learn optimal MTD configurations improving security posture and reducing vulnerabilities in cloud-based defence systems,” said Dr McKay.

Lead Complex Systems Research Group at the University of Adelaide, Associate Professor Claudia Szabo, added, “Our focus is on understanding how RL can enhance adaptability and efficiency in cyber defence, ensuring Australia remains at the forefront of cyber security innovation.”

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