Advancing the CPS and Science of Security Virtual Organization to Support Collaborative Research

The Science of Security Virtual Organization (SoS-VO), operated by Vanderbilt’s Institute for Convergent Software Integrated Systems (ICONS), provides the digital infrastructure and community support that helps advance cybersecurity research focused on building systems people can trust. Working with a research community that includes the National Security Agency, U.S. government, academia, and industry, Vanderbilt-ISIS maintains a shared environment where researchers can collaborate, report progress, preserve and share research findings, and connect work across institutions. The effort is particularly focused on strengthening the scientific foundations of cybersecurity—developing rigorous, evidence-based approaches for creating software and systems that remain safe, secure, correct, and resilient even in complex or adversarial environments. 

Vanderbilt-ISIS also provides extensive technical and organizational support for two major research gatherings: the High Confidence Software and Systems (HCSS) Conference and the Hot Topics in the Science of Security (HotSoS) Symposium. These events bring together researchers, government leaders, industry practitioners, and students to exchange new ideas, identify important research gaps, and advance methods for developing dependable and secure systems—particularly those used in national security and other mission-critical settings. Through the SoS-VO and these coordinated community activities, Vanderbilt helps connect researchers, preserve and disseminate their work, and accelerate the movement of promising cybersecurity research from scientific discovery toward real-world practice.