Building Secure and Intelligent Net-working Systems using Programma-ble Networking
Explore how programmable networking is powering secure and intelligent systems in our upcoming CTTC Seminar by Dr. Israat Haque from Dalhousie University.
- Speaker: Dr. Israat Haque from Faculty of Computer Science at Dalhousie University
- Date & Time: Monday, May 18, 2026 | 10:00 AM CET
- Location: CTTC Auditorium (Building B6)
- Available online
- Duration: Approximately 45 minutes and Q&A
About the Seminar
Efficient, scalable, and secure system design is essential to support emerging applications such as artificial intelligence (AI), advanced telecommunications, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The rapid growth of applications has introduced new requirements on the underlying infrastructure, including greater agility and interoperability while keeping up with scale. Traditional fixed-function distributed networking elements often introduce latency, create visibility gaps, and struggle to cope with increasingly dynamic network behaviors. Network programmability enables dynamic configuration, real-time monitoring, and efficient management of network elements while improving performance, reliability, and security.
Emerging programmable networking technologies, e.g., in-network computing, in-kernel packet processing, and hardware accelerators (e.g., smart network interface cards (NICs)), provide new opportunities to rethink next-generation network systems. This talk first demonstrates how these computing capabilities enable security functions that traditional fixed-function approaches may not efficiently provide. It highlights key challenges and potential mitigation strategies in building next-generation security systems, illustrated through examples such as IoT event classification, early rejection of malicious traffic, and detection of lateral movement in networks. The talk then discusses data-driven and programmable 5G systems designed to enhance the performance and resilience of radio access networks (RANs), along with the practical challenges encountered in developing such systems. The talk concludes with a perspective on future networking system design in the era of AI, IoT, and 6G.
Dr. Israat Haque is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Computer Science at Dalhousie University and the Director of the Programmable and Intelligent Networking (PINet) Lab. Her work applies network programmability, system-level monitoring, and data-driven techniques to strengthen the security, reliability, sustainability, and performance of telecommunication networks, IoT platforms, and AI-enabled systems, particularly in complex and dynamic environments. Dr. Haque has been recognized for both technical leadership and impact. She was named an ACM/IEEE N2Women Rising Star (2021) and received Digital Nova Scotia’s Thinking Forward Award (2022) for developing highly skilled technology and security talent. In 2024, she received the Alumni Award from the University of Alberta. Dr. Haque has also been named among the 100 Brilliant and Inspiring Women in 6G 2026. She is an active contributor to the IEEE and ACM research communities and has served as an editor for IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology and IEEE Communications Magazine.