CyQuaPro: A Stackelberg Game Framework for Cyberdefense for Distributed Systems

Abstract

As distributed systems become increasingly interconnected,efficiently allocating cybersecurity resources to defend against sophisticated cyber threats is paramount. In this paper we address this challengeby formulating a Stackelberg game-theoretic model for optimal resourceallocation in distributed environments. Our approach strategically models interactions between attackers and defenders, capturing the dynamicnature of cyber threats and the defender’s limited resources. We proposea new algorithm called Cyber Quadratic Programming (CyQuaAPro) tosolve the optimization problem, considering factors such as target correlation, asset value, and budget constraints. Our model demonstraterobustness and scalability across multiple scenarios, providing practicalinsights into resource prioritization and defensive strategy optimizationin complex interconnected systems.