Characterizing the running patterns of moving target defense mechanisms

Moving Target Defense (MTD) has been proposed as a game-changing theme to increase the work effort to attack as well as the security of target system. There has been proposed a multitude of MTD mechanisms. Generally, these mechanisms follow some fundamental running patterns which determine their functionalities. In this paper, we introduce three main schools of thought on MTD mechanisms systematically and categorize the related works according to them. Then we identify and define three fundamental running patterns exhibited by these MTD mechanisms. Thereafter, we use five MTD mechanisms, which belong to the three schools of thought, as cases to confirm the patterns presented. This work can help the novices of this field to understand the running behaviours of MTDs better and easier, and can also give developers design guidance of new MTD system by providing insights of the running patterns.