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Cybersecurity has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. There is an exponential increase of cyber-incidents in the last years than what there used to, and it is being driven by new emerging technologies which are changing our daily lives. These technologies also offer a great opportunity to support “defenders” to create new solutions and new approaches to ensure the required security for an effective digital transformation. One of those key technologies is Digital Twin. These virtual environments, which replicate physical and digital systems in real time, are changing the game by offering an innovative perspective on protecting and managing critical infrastructures, enterprise networks, and IoT devices.
How Digital Twins Can Support Cybersecurity?
A digital twin is a precise virtual representation of a physical or digital system that uses real-time data to reflect the system's state, behavior, and performance. In cybersecurity, digital twins may enable:
- Simulation and attack analysis: Security teams can recreate attack scenarios in a virtual environment to better understand vulnerabilities and potential consequences without putting in risk actual systems.
- Real-time monitoring: By integrating sensors and data sources, digital twins provide real-time insights into emerging threats, enabling faster and more effective responses.
- Testing new strategies: Organizations can trial cybersecurity tools and strategies within the digital twin before implementing them, reducing risks and costs.
Key Benefits of Digital Twins in Cybersecurity
Digital Twins may offer a great number of benefits for its users. Some of them are listed here:
- Proactive prevention: It supports identifying anomalous patterns and simulating potential cyberattacks, digital twins help anticipate problems before they occur.
- Resource optimization: Simulations help prioritize cybersecurity investments by prioritizing the most vulnerable areas requiring immediate attention.
- Training in a secure environment: IT and OT teams can train in realistic scenarios without risking operational systems by using simulated scenarios.
- Improved lifecycle management: Digital twins can integrate be integrated with standards and regulations like IEC 62443 or NIS2 providing a comprehensive approach to risk assessment, solution implementation, and cybersecurity event management.
Notable Use Cases
Cybersecurity is a transversal approach which affects all sectors which are currently facing digital transformation. That is the reason why the application of digital twins to support cybersecurity application can be extended to all industrial sectors. Some of these applications are:
- Critical infrastructure protection: In sectors like energy, transportation, and healthcare, digital twins simulate specific attacks to strengthen defenses in SCADA systems and IoT networks.
- Enterprise network security: Organizations use digital twins to visualize their entire IT infrastructure and anticipate the impact of potential threats.
- Innovation in talent training: Learning platforms are exploring the integration of digital twins to train professionals in practical cybersecurity skills.
Challenges and the Future
While the benefits of digital twins in cybersecurity are undeniable, they also present challenges. Creating and maintaining a digital twin requires significant initial investment and ongoing data management. Moreover, securing the digital twin itself is crucial, as it can become a target for attackers.
However, the future of digital twins is promising. With advancements in technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, digital twins are becoming increasingly autonomous and precise, evolving into indispensable allies for modern cybersecurity.
Digital Twins are redefining the cybersecurity landscape by offering an innovative approach to anticipating, detecting, and mitigating threats. Their integration into security strategies not only strengthens the protection of current systems but also paves the way for a more secure and resilient digital future.
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About Digital Twin project
The Digital Twin on Smart Manufacturing project is a European collaborative initiative that brings together education providers, industry partners, and SMEs from several EU countries. Its goal is to develop innovative training programmes and learning resources that support the adoption of Digital Twin technologies in smart manufacturing, helping bridge the gap between education and industry needs and contributing to the advancement of Industry 4.0 in Europe.
Gartner (2023). How Digital Twins Are Transforming Cybersecurity. Informe técnico. Disponible en: www.gartner.com
Ghaeini, H. R., & Tippenhauer, N. O. (2018). Security of Cyber-Physical Systems: Cyberattacks, Prevention, and Challenges. International Conference on Cyber-Physical Systems (ICCPS). DOI: 10.1145/3299873
Forbes Technology Council (2023). The Role of Digital Twins in Strengthening Cybersecurity for IoT. Disponible en: Forbes
IBM Security (2024). Leveraging Digital Twins for Proactive Cybersecurity. Disponible en: IBM Digital Twin Security
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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.