DaVinci is a laboratory information system specifically designed for the anatomical pathology labs. It is developed in a Microsoft .net environment and runs on SQL servers. The servers are connected to fat clients installed on desktop PCs. Recently one of our other LIS systems has been brought down by a Denial of Service (DOS) attack (simulated by an internal IT department). This has resulted in research to determine if our DaVinci product is also at risk of such an attack. Most vulnerable to such an attack are the SQL-ports and HL7 broker ports.

The challenge is - to understand how DOS attacks on these ports can be achieved;
- advise what changes need to be made to prevent such attacks; - to develop countermeasures to prevent DOS attacks on the indicated ports

Examine possibilities, advise and develop solutions to solve the subject of DOS attacks.