Usability based modeling for advanced IT-security - an electronic engineering approach

We introduce usability based modeling as new approach to enable an advanced IT-security in electronic engineering. Operating systems based on multi-level-security (MLS) are modeled. These systems contain IT-security as an inherent feature however they also consists of many restrictions for users. Modeling increases the usability of these systems by preserving their high degree of security. This enables operating systems in future that are both, useful and secure. The new approach is in contrast to standard approaches in ITsecurity that have the aim to increase security in state of the art operation systems that are useful for general purposes but of low security. In a case study, three use cases are selected as starting point for usability based modeling on MLS. Usability gaps are identified and the current landscape of technological research and development is scanned to identify possibly solution approaches. After an evaluation, some approaches are presented that are able to bridge the identified usability gaps.