Press release December 12th 2011, Gjøvik University College and Norwegian ArmedForces’ CND center

Monday December 12th 2011 Major and Civil engineer Geir Olav Dyrkolbotn became the first phd recipient of the Norwegian Cyber Command. Major Dyrkolbotn brings fresh and valuable knowledge and skills that will be important when the Norwegian Armed Forces will defend Norway against challenges of the future.

The new doctor in information security will return to his duties at the Norwegian Cyber Command, where he will be working with emission security and Computer Network Defence (CND) at the Norwegian Armed Forces’ CND center at Jørstadmoen near Lillehammer.

Doktor Dyrkolbotn’s PHD is the second to be awarded by Gjøvik University College, the first doctorate was awarded in November 2011. -This has been a long and consuming process, but through the assistance and support from Gjøvik University College, friends and family it is now complete, said the recently made Doctor Dyrkolbotn.

Micro processor information leak

Doctor Dyrkolbotn’s thesis studies the possibilities of extracting information from Micro prosessor smart cards. -It is a known problem that micro processors leak sensitiv information from side channels such as power supplies and electromagnetic radiation.

-The thesis assesses to what extent electromagnetic radiation can reveal the contents of a micro processor, said Dyrkolbotn.

In a world where increasingly large amounts of information are carried on various forms of platforms based on micro processors, and these are increasingly used to carry sensitive and classified information, it is important to protect the information they contain.

-These are all current and relevant challenges. Numerous conferanses held in Norway throughout the last year have shown that information security is a significant challenge in modern societies. These challenges only get more significant with time, said Major General Roar Sundseth, Major Dyrkolbotns commander in the Norwegian Armed Forces.

-It is important, and good, for us to get employees with fresh and specific knowledge in this field, adds Sundseth.

Rector Jørn Wroldsen at Gjøvik University College is very pleased that the Norwegian Armed Forces aims to further their knowledge of Information Security in cooperation with Gjøvik University College. -Information security is becoming an increasingly important field in all areas of our society and we need knowledge of these threats in order to counter the challenges of the future. Dyrkolbotns thesis adds valuable knowledge to the field of Information Security, concludes Wroldsen.

Prioritised field

The freshly made doctor of information security will now be returning to his job of protecting the computer systems of the Norwegian Armed Forces from intrusion, sabotage and attack - an area where the Norwegian Armed Forces have increased their focus over the last years.

In November, the Norwegian Chief of Defence published his advise to the Government on how to adjust the Norwegian Armed Forces to counter challenges of the future. One of his recommendations was to further increase the ability to defend and operate in Cyberspace.

-Military use of Cyberspace develops quickly. These developments mean that we are increasingly dependent on producing our own knowledge and skills in cooperation with other institutions.

-The knowledge that Major Dyrkolbotn now brings with him back to the Armed Forces will be a welcome addition, and will contribute to ensuring that the Norwegian Armed Forces, and Norwegian society in general, is better equipped to counter the challenges and threats of the future, adds Major General Sundseth.

Long process

Major Dyrkolbotn started his PHD in 2003, and has been working at the Norwegian Armed Forces while researching and writing his thesis. -It has been demanding, but at the same time it has been important to me to be at the job, so as to maintain a link and current understanding of the challenges we are facing. This has strengthened and improved my thesis, but has also served to make the thesis more relevant to the challenges my employer is facis, said Dyrkolbotn.