High-Assurance Software
At HASLab, we are focused on the design and implementation of high-assurance software systems: software that is correct by design and resilient to environment faults and malicious attacks. We accomplish our mission within the Computer Science Cluster, anchoring our research on a rigorous approach to three areas of Computer Science: Software Engineering, Distributed Systems, and Cryptography and Information Security.
Our contributions to these areas range from fundamental research on formal methods and algorithms, to applied research on the development of tools and middleware that address real-world demands stemming from long-term collaborations with industry.
Software Engineering – we research methods, techniques and tools for rigorous software development, that can be applied to the internal functionality of a component, its composition with other components, as well as the interaction with the user.
Distributed Systems – we are focused on improving the reliability and scalability of software, by exploring properties inherent to the distribution and replication of computer systems.
Cryptography and Information Security – we aim to minimize the vulnerability of software components to hostile attacks, by deploying structures and cryptographic protocols whose security properties are formally proven.
Through a multidisciplinary approach that is based on solid theoretical foundations, we aim to provide solutions — theory, methods, languages, tools — for the development of complete ICT systems that provide strong guarantees to their owners and users. Prominent application areas of HASLab research include the development of safety and security critical software systems, the operation of secure cloud infrastructures, and the privacy-preserving management and processing of big data.
