Abstract
Digital twins, dynamic virtual representations of physical systems, are being employed in critical infrastructure sectors to enhance monitoring, simulation, and decision-making. The incorporation of digital twins, although offering significant benefits in operational efficiency and predictive maintenance, introduces new cybersecurity challenges. This includes vulnerabilities from real-time data streams, remote access points, and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) device integrations, which adversaries may exploit for espionage, sabotage, or system manipulation. Current cybersecurity standards are insufficiently addressing these threats and require enhancement to effectively manage the complex and hyperconnected nature of digital twin ecosystems. This paper analyzes cybersecurity challenges, drawing insights from historical cyberattacks on critical infrastructure and the emerging threats posed by Industry 4.0 and 5G technologies. It advocates for a multifaceted defensive approach encompassing zero-trust frameworks, advanced behavioral analytics, continuous surveillance, and cooperative governance via public-private partnerships and international collaboration. Thus, digital twins can bolster national resilience and infrastructural dependability in the digital era.