Protecting the systems that power modern life 4 min read · Tue, Apr 14 2026 News Research in Focus cybersecurity Critical Infrastructure Protection Distributed Systems Security AI machine learning The modern world runs on interconnected cyber-physical and distributed digital systems. When cyber-physical systems are compromised, the consequences can extend into the physical world. A cyberattack on a maritime system can disrupt supply chains. A breach in financial infrastructure can destabilize economies. An autonomous system exploit can paralyze transportation networks. These scenarios raise a fundamental question: how can digital and cyber-physical systems be designed to remain secure and resilient in increasingly complex environments? For three decades, KAUST Professor Roberto Di
