The technological trend points to the decreasing specialisation of hardware components. For the most part, ICT systems will in future be controlled primarily by software.

In the past, hardware components tended to be replaced by cheaper and higher-performance hardware components: ever faster processors and larger memories were the order of the day. But now hardware components are controlled by software and hence one is networked with the other. The general virtualisation of all ICT resources promises greater flexibility at lower cost by dividing up the available resources appropriately and deploying them according to need. Rigorous specialisation through software configuration and control makes it possible, for example, to adapt the necessary processing, memory and network elements flexibly in line with functional and performance requirements. In figurative terms, it is thus possible to switch within a short time from a large auditorium to several separate classrooms – or vice versa – as capacity can be freely allocated. But this increased flexibility also means greater risks. The experts at S+T examine all types of software and hardware systems by regularly testing them, comparing them and checking their safety.

S+T has produced a summary of existing training and simulator systems. Training facilities are a vital element in all security-related organizations – not least of all the Swiss Armed Forces, given the growing shortage of training opportunities, training periods and training staff. It is essential to keep developing these facilities with a view to optimizing the usefulness of the training results.

Organizations with security-related roles such as the DDPS, the police or the cantons are constantly confronted with the need to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. Here a methodical approach is beneficial to decision-making and also saves costs. In this context, S+T is conducting a multi-phase proof-of-principle trial. This covers the whole process from the initial on-screen simulation and the initial field trials through to full-scale exercises with armed forces personnel.

Vincent Lenders (armasuisse Science and Technology) together with David Gugelmann, Fabian Gasser and Bernhard Ager (ETH Zurich) have received an award at the annual Digital Forensic Research Workshop conference (DFRWS EU 2015) in Dublin.