Aerospace & Defense Technology - June 2024 - 9

Digital Twins
that are designed to safeguard CUI that
is stored or managed within the information
sharing networks owned and
operated by government contractors and
subcontractors. The standard outlines
specific practices and procedures contractors
must adhere to when their networks
store or process CUI.
Considerations for all systems/platforms
should include but are not limited to:
* How will the client disseminate the
information the contractor required to
build the digital twin?
* How will the contractor securely process
and store that data?
* Who can access the data? In the case of
a digital twin project, potential human
involvement extends beyond the contractor
to a sub-contractor or vendor
who handles the AI environment.
* Who controls the data?
* Where is the data processed and stored?
* Who has access to the AI environment
for review and testing?
* What happens to the CUI once the
digital twin has served its purpose and
testing terminates?
Organizations must weigh the benefits
against the costs and risks. The benefits
can be substantial, from improving
operational efficiencies to providing a
platform for innovation, but these are
only happily-ever-after's if they are
built on a solid, secure foundation.
The Global Mosaic of Data
In a globalized economy, digital twin
data may traverse international borders
multiple times a day. This creates a complex
patchwork of different regulations
and laws, in particular the U.S. International
Traffic in Arms Regulation
(ITAR). Data isolation laws in various
countries further complicate matters,
potentially fragmenting the integrity of
a digital twin. All robust cybersecurity
standards and guidelines must apply to
digital twinning along with products
and specifications that traditionally
have fallen into the CUI category.
A Framework for the Farsighted
Creating a digital twin is not just a
technical feat; it is a strategic imperative
that touches every facet of modern
business. From security to sovereignty
and from trust to ethics, the decisions
made today about digital twin architecture
will reverberate long into the future.
Organizations must adopt a farsighted
approach to digital twinning, one that is
as much about the long-term viability of
the technology as it is about the shortterm
benefits, and balanced against the
cybersecurity risks it brings.
This article was written by Robert McVay,
Senior Consultant, Information Security
Services, Smithers (Akron, OH). For more
information, visit www.smithers.com/
nist-sp-800-171-and-cmmc.
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Aerospace & Defense Technology, June 2024
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