Interscale Content Hub – Bringing digital twins into the business landscape introduces some new security challenges that we need to think about. Yup, how secure is your digital twin?
This is pretty important, as the Verizon Business “2024 Data Breach Investigations Report” shows.
Verizon says that there’s been a big increase in attacks using vulnerabilities as a way to get into systems. It’s almost tripled (180% increase) from last year.
So, are your digital twins secure enough? Let’s talk about what you need to secure here.
Security Risks Associated with Digital Twins
Cybersecurity Threats
In their article “Security Attacks and Solutions for Digital Twins”, Sabah Suhail and colleagues look at the different ways that digital twins can be threatened.
The threats can range from pretty sophisticated Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) to more common data breaches and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.
APTs are a real worry because they allow attackers to hide in a network for a long time, stealing valuable data.
In the context of digital twins, this could mean the theft of sensitive operational data or even intellectual property.
Suhail also points out that digital twins, because they’re all connected, can be used to move laterally within a network, giving attackers access to and potentially control of high-value assets.
Mark Hearn and Simon Rix in “Cybersecurity Considerations for Digital Twin Implementations” also raise similar concerns.
They say that if a digital twin is compromised, it can act as a kind of “blueprint” for attackers, revealing vulnerabilities in the corresponding physical system.
They also say that digital twins often use old code, which could be copied and used by others if it isn’t protected.
Physical Security Threats
If a digital twin is breached, it can provide detailed information about the physical system, which could allow attackers to identify and exploit vulnerabilities.
This was shown when a hacker used a digital twin that had been compromised to test and improve attack mechanisms, effectively turning the twin into a testbed for real-world attacks.
Suhail et al. also mention how attackers can use what they’ve learned from digital twins during the decommissioning phase to launch attacks on future systems.
If digital twins aren’t disposed of properly or if there aren’t enough security measures in place when they’re archived, there’s a risk of data breaches.
This could give attackers access to historical data that they can use to launch subsequent attacks.
Attack Vectors
There are lots of ways that digital twins can be attacked.
Fauzia Hassan and colleagues in “Investigation of Digital Twin Technology for Secure and Privacy-Preserving Networking” group these attack vectors into a few main areas:
- Data privacy.
- Data integrity.
- Interconnectivity risks.
- Network security.
- Authentication and access control.
Suhail et al., look more closely at particular types of attack, such as using software weaknesses, network flaws and even human mistakes to gain access.
For example, if there are flaws in the software used to create and manage the digital twin, it could be exploited to gain unauthorised access.
Similarly, if the network security is weak, attackers can use it to intercept or manipulate data sent between the digital twin and its physical counterpart.
Suhail also points out how reconnaissance attacks are a big risk. These are where attackers gather information about a system’s vulnerabilities before launching a more targeted assault.
Meanwhile, Hearn and Rix say there are two main security issues: not having enough configurability and insecure software or firmware.
They also point out how digital twins could be used as blueprints for attacks. This is where hackers reverse engineer the twin to map out attack scripts against the physical systems they replicate.
For your additional reference, please refer to “How Construction Digital Twin Works & Helps Stop Waste Money in Project.”
Key Security Measures for Digital Twins
Authentication and Authorization
Mark Hearn and Simon Rix say the key is multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access control (RBAC).
MFA adds another layer of security by asking users to provide different forms of ID, like a password and a fingerprint or a code sent to their phone.
RBAC makes sure that users only have access to the specific functions and data they need to do their jobs, which helps to reduce the risk of unauthorised actions.
A survey in their paper showed that 79% of industrial and manufacturing companies had been hit by cyberattacks focused on the IoT. This goes to show how important it is to have strong authentication protocols in place.
Data Encryption
The data flowing between a digital twin and its physical counterpart, as well as the data stored within the digital twin itself, is a goldmine of information for potential attackers.
That’s why data encryption is another big part of keeping everything secure. Hassan et al. also point out why it’s important to encrypt this data both when it’s being sent and when it’s stored.
Encryption basically scrambles the data so that only the right person with the right decryption key can read it.
This is a basic security step you can take to cut down on the chance of data breaches and unauthorised access.
Regular Security Audits
We should emphasise the value of ongoing monitoring and regular audits. Why?
The goal is to ensure we’re meeting security standards and spotting potential issues.
Hearn and Rix also suggest doing regular security audits and vulnerability assessments as a way of keeping digital twins secure.
These audits involve taking a close look at the digital twin’s security setup to spot and fix any potential issues.
Another good idea is to get security simulations up and running in the security operations centre. That way, we can spot and deal with security incidents more quickly.
For details on the differentiation process, kindly refer “How to Tell the Difference Between a Model and a Digital Twin: A Roadmap“
Advanced Security Strategies
Zero Trust Architecture
The old-fashioned approach of trusting everything within a network perimeter just doesn’t cut it anymore, given the current threat landscape.
Suhail and colleagues say we should use a zero trust architecture, which means we can’t trust any user or device by default.
This approach makes security a lot more robust because it assumes that threats could come from anywhere, whether from you or from your colleagues.
This approach means checking identities and access rights all the time, which makes it a lot harder for attackers to move around a network and compromise a digital twin.
Behavioral Analytics and Anomaly Detection
Digital twins produce a lot of data, and within this data are clues you can use to spot potential security breaches.
We can use those data to create a behavioural analytics and anomaly detection system.
The aim is to spot unusual patterns that could be a sign of a security threat.
Suhail et al., say we should use behavioural analytics and anomaly detection tools to spot unusual activity.
These tools can learn the normal patterns of behaviour for a digital twin and then flag up anything that doesn’t match, like unauthorised access attempts or unexpected changes in data patterns.
As Hearn and Rix say, if you know what normal activity looks like and you keep an eye on things, you can spot potential security issues early on.
They also show how digital twins can be used to spot unusual activity that might indicate a security threat.
Incident Response Planning
Even with the best security measures in place, there’s always a chance of a security breach.
Therefore, both Suhail et al. and Hassan et al. stress the importance of having a well-defined incident response plan.
This plan should set out the steps to be taken in the event of an incident, including identifying the source of the attack, containing the damage, and restoring normal operations.
If you’ve got a good incident response plan in place, you’re much more likely to be able to limit the damage of a security breach and get back to normal pretty quickly.
Making sure the incident response plan is up to date and tested regularly means the organisation is ready to handle security incidents effectively.
Bringing incident response together with behavioural analytics helps us spot and deal with advanced threats more effectively.
So, are you all set with all those security approaches we talked about?
Or do you think you need to bring in a partner or in-house team to help with those kinds of security approaches?
Find Your Security & Digital Twins Management Support System
For sure, partnering up is the way to go. There’s no better option. That’s why Interscale here to help with comprehensive BIM management services, including robust security solutions tailored for digital twins.
We can help with all kinds of security issues, such as managing your BIM security, setting up and implementing digital twins, or providing training and support.
Our team of experts knows all about digital twins and how they can be used in lots of different industries.
One example of our work is our collaboration with Ewert Leaf, a leading Australian construction company.
We helped Ewert Leaf get a digital twin solution up and running for one of their big projects. As a result, they saved a lot of money and got better results.
We know we have a lot to offer, so we’d like you to do some research and see for yourself.
Feel free to browse our Interscale BIM Management Support Service page.
Or, if you need to make a few more tweaks, we’d be happy to run them by you.
Let us know when you can get together to grab a coffee and a meeting. We’re here for you 24/7, whenever you need us.
In Closing
The best way to get the real benefits of digital twins is to make security a top priority. This is non-negotiable.
Strategies like zero trust architecture, behavioural analytics, and incident response planning can help you make your digital twin more secure.
So, how secure is your digital twin? You’ll know the answer when you start using them; is it rock solid, or is it easily breached?
