CRATER: A Repository of Cybersecurity Tools for Critical Infrastructure Resilience

The Challenge

Protecting critical infrastructure systems—such as power grids, water systems, and industrial control systems—requires robust cybersecurity testing to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities. However, testing these complex systems often reveals niche problems that existing tools cannot solve.

Researchers and engineers working on these systems face challenges such as:

• Limited tools for evaluating uncommon system components.

• Insufficient resources to address specialized testing requirements.

• A lack of centralized repositories for sharing effective solutions across research teams.

Without access to the right tools, cybersecurity gaps may go undetected, leaving critical infrastructure systems at risk of cyberattacks and operational failures.

How It Works

The CyTRICS Repository of Analysis Tools and Engineering Resources (CRATER) provides a collection of custom tools developed during cybersecurity testing for the Cybersecurity Testing for Resilient Industrial Control Systems (CyTRICS) program.

• Built by Researchers, for Researchers: Tools were created to solve real-world problems encountered during CyTRICS evaluations of industrial control systems.

• Niche Problem-Solving: Focuses on uncommon components and architectures where existing tools proved insufficient or unavailable.

• Accessible Repository: Tools are organized in a centralized repository, enabling researchers and other national labs to efficiently access solutions for specific testing challenges.

Key Advantages

• Addresses Unique Cybersecurity Challenges: Provides solutions for niche problems that standard testing tools cannot handle.

• Accelerates Research Efforts: Saves time and resources by offering pre-built tools that have been field-tested by CyTRICS researchers.

• Enhances Collaboration: Facilitates knowledge-sharing between national labs and cybersecurity researchers working on critical infrastructure.

• Supports Infrastructure Resilience: Enables more thorough vulnerability testing, helping to secure systems essential to national security and public safety.

• Resource for Uncommon Components: Fills gaps in existing tooling by targeting specialized systems and architectures often overlooked by mainstream solutions.

Market Applications

• National Laboratories: Supporting other DOE labs participating in the CyTRICS program with tools to evaluate and secure critical infrastructure systems.

• Cybersecurity Researchers: Providing resources for identifying vulnerabilities in industrial control systems with niche components.

• Critical Infrastructure Operators: Assisting vendors and system integrators in identifying and mitigating cybersecurity risks.

This software is open source and available at no cost. Download now by visiting the product's GitHub page.