ENHANCING THE PRIVACY AND INTEGRITY OF FEDERATED LEARNING MODELS USING HYBRID HOMOMORPHIC ENCRYPTION

Abstract

The convergence of digital and physical infrastructures in Internet Service Provider (ISP) networks has created unprecedented vulnerabilities to national-level disruptions. Whereas traditional cybersecurity focuses on data protection, this paper addresses the critical gap in protecting the physical components of ISP infrastructure—undersea cables, central offices, fiber optic trunks, and power systems—from coordinated cyber-physical attacks. Through a mixed-methods approach combining graph-based security analysis, policy assessment, and systems thinking, we demonstrate how attacks on these physical chokepoints can trigger cascading failures across public safety, economic systems, and critical infrastructure. Our analysis reveals significant gaps in current preparedness, including siloed governance, inadequate field integration of innovations, and chronic underinvestment in resilience R&D. We propose an Integrated Cyber-Physical Resilience Framework with technical mechanisms for dynamic threat detection and policy structures for effective public-private partnerships. The framework's efficacy is demonstrated through a simulated attack scenario "Operation Tidal Wave," showing 68% faster threat detection and 45% improved recovery times. We conclude with specific implementation pathways for government agencies and ISPs and identify critical future research avenues for protecting this essential national security infrastructure.