Network Management System: Internet Gateway Management Protocol Timers and Network Resource Loading Tool; Beyond Technical Vulnerabilities: An Actor-Network Theory Approach to the 2024 CrowdStrike Cybersecurity Failure

My technical capstone report and STS research paper are connected through their focus on managing and securing complex technological systems. In my technical report, I developed automated tools to optimize network management systems (NMS) for a global satellite communications company, ensuring scalability and minimizing human error. Meanwhile, my STS research investigates the 2024 CrowdStrike outage, using Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to analyze how cyber threats emerge from the interaction of human, organizational, and technical actors. Although my projects differ in scope, one enhancing network performance and the other analyzing a security failure, they both highlight the challenges and responsibilities that come with designing and maintaining large-scale, high-stakes systems. In both cases, successful outcomes depend on more than just the technology itself; they require understanding and managing the broader network of actors involved. In my technical project, I worked on automating the configuration and testing processes for a next generation network management system used in global satellite communications. I designed and implemented test scripts, YAML templates, and automated workflows using tools like Docker, Kubernetes, and OpenShift. These tools enabled scalable deployment and high availability across multiple endpoints. By reducing manual interventions and streamlining updates, my contributions significantly improved the system’s efficiency and reliability. The technical work demonstrated the power of automation and containerization in supporting complex, distributed networks, ultimately making them more maintainable and less prone to human error. My STS research paper examines the 2024 CrowdStrike IT outage through the lens of Actor-Network Theory (ANT). ANT allowed me to examine how the interaction of various actors, ranging from cybersecurity software and IT professionals to organizational policies and external threat actors, led to a significant failure in system security. The breach revealed that even highly advanced technical systems remain vulnerable when human oversight, misconfigurations, or organizational shortcomings are involved. My analysis argues that security must be seen as a sociotechnical issue, not just a technical one. By examining the broader network of actors and network builders that contributed to the breach, my research underscores the importance of remaining adaptable and attentive in cybersecurity practices. Working on both the technical and STS projects additionally deepened my understanding of how technological systems function, not just on a technical level, but also within broader human and organizational contexts. My hands-on experience developing scalable network management tools highlighted the benefits of automation and the importance of reliability in global systems. At the same time, my STS research reminded me that technical improvements alone are not enough; human error and company practices must also be taken into consideration when designing secure systems. These insights have fundamentally shaped how I think about system design. Moving forward, I will approach future projects with a more holistic mindset, integrating technical understanding with awareness of the socio-technical factors that affect system performance and security.