An Overview of Cyber Security Funding for Open Source Software

2024-12-08

arXiv.org

AI Summary

Open-source software (OSS) serves as critical infrastructure yet faces persistent security maintenance and sustainability crises due to chronic human resource shortages. Method: This study investigates cybersecurity-oriented OSS funding mechanisms, conducting a qualitative thematic analysis of policy documents, project reports, and funding data from two specialized funding organizations. Drawing on critical infrastructure theory, OSS sustainability research, and cybersecurity regulatory frameworks (e.g., GDPR, NIS2), it integrates these perspectives for the first time. Contribution/Results: The analysis identifies core funded domains—including network supply chains, cryptographic libraries, programming languages, and OS-level components—and reveals that funding decisions are jointly driven by cybersecurity imperatives and sustainability goals—neither alone suffices. A multidimensional funding logic framework is proposed, explicitly linking technical, regulatory, and socio-organizational dimensions. Findings provide both theoretical grounding and actionable guidance for refining OSS security funding strategies.

Technology Category

• Application Domains: Security
• Computer Vision: Other Foundations of Computer Vision
• Search and Optimization: Other Foundations of Search & Optimization

Application Category

• Security and Privacy: Data transparency and provenance
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Sustainability and carbon-aware systems for Web, mobile, and WoT
• Responsible Web: Sustainability and climate impact of web technologies

Abstract

Context: Many open source software (OSS) projects need more human resources for maintenance, improvements, and sometimes even their survival. This need allegedly applies even to vital OSS projects that can be seen as being a part of the world's critical infrastructures. To address this resourcing problem, new funding instruments for OSS projects have been established in recent years. Objectives: The paper examines two such funding bodies for OSS and the projects they have funded. The focus of both funding bodies is on software security and cyber security in general. Methods: The methodology is based on qualitative thematic analysis. Results: Particularly OSS supply chains, network and cryptography libraries, programming languages, and operating systems and their low-level components have been funded and thus seen as critical in terms of cyber security by the two funding bodies. Conclusions: In addition to the qualitative results presented, the paper makes a contribution by connecting the research branches of critical infrastructure and sustainability of OSS projects. A further contribution is made by connecting the topic examined to recent cyber security regulations. Finally, an important argument is raised that neither cyber security nor sustainability alone can entirely explain the rationales behind the funding decisions made by the two bodies.

Problem

• Examining funding for critical open source software security
• Analyzing OSS projects deemed vital for cyber infrastructure
• Linking OSS sustainability to cybersecurity funding rationales

Innovation

• Qualitative thematic analysis methodology
• Funding OSS supply chains and libraries
• Connecting critical infrastructure and OSS sustainability