Abstract
Information systems depend on security mechanisms to detect and respond to cyber-attacks. One of the most frequent attacks is the Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS): it impairs the performance of systems and, in the worst case, leads to prolonged periods of downtime that prevent business processes from running normally. To detect this attack, several supervised Machine Learning (ML) algorithms have been developed and companies use them to protect their servers. A key stage in these algorithms is feature pre-processing, in which, input data features are assessed and selected to obtain the best results in the subsequent stages that are required to implement supervised ML algorithms. In this article, an innovative approach for feature selection is proposed: the use of Visibility Graphs (VGs) to select features for supervised machine learning algorithms used to detect distributed DoS attacks. The results show that VG can be quickly implemented and can compete with other methods to select ML features, as they require low computational resources and they offer satisfactory results, at least in our example based on the early detection of distributed DoS. The size of the processed data appears as the main implementation constraint for this novel feature selection method.

Abstract
Adopting innovative technologies such as blockchain and additive manufacturing can help organisations promote the development of additive symbiotic networks, thus pursuing higher sustainable goals and implementing circular economy strategies. These symbiotic networks correspond to industrial symbiosis networks in which wastes and by-products from other industries are incorporated into additive manufacturing processes. The adoption of blockchain technology in such a context is still in a nascent stage. Using the case study method, this research demonstrates the adoption of blockchain technology in an additive symbiotic network of a real-life context. The requirements to use a blockchain network are identified, and an architecture based on smart contracts is proposed as an enabler of the additive symbiotic network under study. The proposed solution uses the Hyperledger Fabric Attribute-Based Access Control as the distributed ledger technology. Even though this solution is still in the proof-of-concept stage, the results show that adopting it would allow the elimination of intermediary entities, keep available tracking records of the resources exchanged, and improve trust among the symbiotic stakeholders (that do not have any trust or cooperation mechanisms established before the symbiotic relationship). This study highlights that the complexity associated with introducing a novel technology and the technology's immaturity compared to other data storage technologies are some of the main challenges related to using blockchain technology in additive symbiotic networks.

Abstract
The world economy depends on information systems. Business value resides in the data stored on Information Technology (IT) systems and on the processes run with those data. Malicious actors target these IT systems to extract value out of them using different cyberattacks. Denial of Service (DoS) attacks are a common and harmful method to render IT systems connected to the Internet and, consequently, business processes running on top of them, unavailable. Cybersecurity researchers in the industry and academia are in search of early warning and detection systems to detect and mitigate these DoS attacks. This article proposes a novel early detection strategy for DoS attacks based on the information provided by Horizontal Visibility Graphs (HVG) and Natural Visibility Graphs (VG) obtained out of the network flows monitored at the receiving end of the attack. From the primary results obtained, this strategy can detect a DoS attack under 70ms and 30 packets. These results point out that the application HVGs and VGs is a relevant and promising research direction to prevent or mitigate the impact of a DoS attack.

Abstract
Nowadays ransomware attacks have become one of the main problems organizations face. The threat of ransomware attacks, with their capacity to paralyze entire organizations, creates the need to develop a ransomware recovery utility function to help further prepare for the impact of such attacks and enhance the organization's knowledge and perception of risk. This work proposes a ransomware recovery utility function that aims to estimate the impact of a ransomware attack measured in manpower hours till recovery and taking into account different devices and different scenarios.

Abstract
The digitisation of administrative tasks and processes is a reality nowadays, translating into added value such as agility in process management, or simplified access to stored data. The digitisation of processes of decision-making in collegiate bodies, such as Academic Councils, is not yet a common reality. Voting acts are still carried out in person, or at most in online meetings, without having a real confirmation of the vote of each element. This is particularly complex to achieve in remote meeting scenarios, where connection breaks or interruptions of audio or video streams may exist. A new digital platform was already previously proposed. It considered decision-making, by voting in Academic Councils, to be supported by a system that guarantees the integrity of the decisions taken, even when meeting online. Our previous work mainly considered the overall design. In this work, we bettered the design and specification of our previous proposal and describe the implemented prototype, and validate and discuss the obtained results.