Security research and development is a heterogeneous area. In addition, it is composed of a few fields that are almost mutually exclusive. These fields are cryptography, network security and operating systems. Network security is further categorized into commercial and government security.
CPSs are closely integrated physical processes, networking, computation, feedback loops and comprise several tiny devices with sensing, computing, and wireless communication capabilities. The tremendously enhanced functionality, automation, and connectivity also bring significant cybersecurity challenges to the CPS. Moreover, the extensive connectivity makes a CPS vulnerable to cyber threats and attacks, making safety, security and privacy essential research issues.
The key concepts in theoretical research define abstract concepts, either computational or mathematical models that define the cyber world.
The theoretical cyber security research contains two main procedures, formal theoretical and simulation. The theoretical perspective of cyber security research often crosses over into other research areas. Cryptography and cryptanalysis are research areas which involve cyber security, mathematics, theory of computation, and linguistics as well. Sometimes, interdisciplinarity can make theoretical cyber security research different from the other categories of research.