In today's digital environment, nearly every industry faces challenges concerning reliability, security, and trust. Ensuring that systems persist in operation despite hacker threats and that enterprises can effectively safeguard their assets are paramount concerns.

In today's highly digitalized era, constant interaction with the Internet—such as sending and receiving emails, browsing websites, and using social media—is almost unavoidable. This connectivity offers unprecedented convenience and efficiency in communication, commerce, and information sharing. However, it also introduces significant cybersecurity and privacy challenges. One of the most concerning issues is the digital footprints we leave behind, which can be exploited by hackers for various cyber-attacks.

This Special Section on Information Processing in Engineering System Reliability Assessment and Management is to explore scientific paradigms, models, methods, and technologies with solid theoretical development and practical applications to reshape the information processing in reliability assessment and management for engineered systems.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has become a popular platform that supports various services, such as smart homes, industrial applications, microsurveillance systems, and smart city services. IoT connects physical devices, such as sensors, thermostats, cell phones, laptops, and servers, and enables them to collect and exchange data. It has been predicted that the number of IoT devices will reach billions by the year of 2025. These sensing devices often generate large amounts of sensitive data and communicate frequently through open channels at a high risk of being compromised. Due to the mission-critical nature of IoT applications, IoT devices must operate in a secure and reliable manner. Any network outage, data loss, or corruption during transmission or in storage can have catastrophic effects on the IoT applications. For their deployment, security and reliability assurance are essential. IoT devices may span multiple layers of the IoT architecture, (e.g., cloud, edge, and sensors) and vary in various service modes, critical levels, and connectivity. When an IoT device encounters unexpected events, it needs to automatically reconfigure its settings and operations, and sometimes even suspend its transmission in a way that cyber resiliency can be achieved.

Degradation in reliability engineering refers to the gradual deterioration in the performance or condition of a system or component over time due to factors such as wear and tear, usage, and environmental influences. Understanding degradation patterns helps predict remaining useful life and identify potential failure modes. On the other hand, maintenance aims to preserve, restore, or enhance system performance. It is essential to ensure that the system operates as intended and meets its operational requirements throughout its intended life. Reliability engineers meticulously analyze degradation patterns and strategically employ maintenance techniques based on factors such as criticality, environmental conditions, and cost considerations. By doing so, they can extend the life of systems, reduce unexpected breakdowns, and enhance overall reliability and performance, ensuring safe and efficient operation throughout the system's lifecycle.

In today's hyperconnected world, our lives rely heavily on digital networks. Cybersecurity is no longer an option; it is an imperative. Our daily existence is intricately entwined with digital threads, from the smartphones in our pockets to the smart appliances that control our homes. This growing reliance on technology exposes us to a wide spectrum of cyber threats capable of disrupting the reliability and availability of critical services. As we navigate this digitally dependent era, we must recognize that every click, swipe, and online interaction may potentially be harmful. Cyberattacks have transcended mere inconveniences, compromising personal privacy, disrupting business operations, and even challenging the integrity of critical infrastructures. In this landscape, cybersecurity acts as a shield, standing as the essential guardian of our modern way of life. The urgency of effective approaches against cyber threats cannot be overstated. It is the collective responsibility of individuals, organizations, and governments to prioritize cybersecurity, ensuring the safety of our digital ecosystems. Malicious actors continually refine their tactics, exploiting vulnerabilities in networks, software, and human behavior. Robust cybersecurity strategies encompass a comprehensive set of tools and practices, including firewalls, encryption, intrusion detection systems, and ongoing security awareness. These measures aim to protect our digital infrastructures and ensure the reliability of the technology that shapes our world. In this rapidly changing world, cybersecurity serves as the linchpin holding our interconnected world together. It must remain steadfast and adaptable as technology continues to advance, defending against new and evolving threats. The digital age has arrived, and in this new era, the safeguarding of our digital existence is inextricably tied to the strength of our cybersecurity practices and the resilience of our defenses.

Examines emerging trends in trustworthy computing. Trustworthy computing is crucial to ensure security, availability, and reliability in cyberspace. As cyberthreats have rapidly increased in recent years, the emerging trends in trustworthy computing are focused on strategy and tactics against cyberthreats. Increasingly, rampant malware development has motivated the need of Zero Trust cyber environment with total visibility and control against these emerging threats. At present, Advanced Persistent Threats, such as ransomware, pose a major threat to victims ranging from individual users to enterprises. The rise of Internet of Things (IoTs) further motivates the need for countermeasures against cyberthreats. Due to the lack of visibility in the cyberspace, most of the threats are not detected until the final impact. Ransomware campaigns are highly pernicious but seemingly normal behaviors, making them hard to be distinguished and detected. Understanding adversaries to prioritize defenses with comprehensive security strategy can effectively reduce business operational risk.