The information security research area is one of the competency areas within the CSIR Modelling and Digital Science (MDS) unit. The information security group’s research focuses on the processes, methodologies and techniques used to protect information from unauthorised access. The major drive towards the establishment of this competency revolves around the need to develop a capability on information security systems. This is also driven by the need for research and development (R&D) of technologies that can be deployed locally to secure state information without reliance on imported technologies that can be maliciously used to acquire critical information through deliberate or unintended back doors.

The CSIR MDS Information Security competency identifies three principles of information security:

• Confidentiality – only authorised parties have access to information
• Integrity – no unauthorised modifications to information is permitted
• Availability – reliable and timely access to data

The information security competency area is divided into two focus areas. The areas are identity authentication; and Network and Data security. The network and data security provides support to our biometric solutions through the provision of networking solutions, data security and analysis of access patterns.