OT Emulation Models for Near Real-Time Cyberattack Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cyber-attack simulation tools are insufficient for Operational Technology (OT) systems, lacking real-time or near real-time reconfiguration capabilities, which hinders reliable planning, safe system changes, and integration planning in critical infrastructure environments.
Innovation Solution
A simulation and emulation system that uses dynamic digital emulation models to simulate real-world scenarios, including cyber-attacks, allowing for near real-time reconfiguration of OT components, with analysis and remediation actions to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current cyber-attack simulation tools are used for OT systems, then basic simulation capability is provided, but real-time or near real-time reconfiguration capability is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic digital emulation models that can be reconfigured in real-time or near real-time based on operational procedures. The system allows operational procedures to be executed that dynamically modify the behavior and parameters of the emulation models, enabling the simulation to adapt to changing OT system configurations and operational states without requiring complete model reconstruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures multiple operational procedures within the simulation model that can be selectively executed. These procedures are prepared in advance to handle various OT operational scenarios, allowing the system to quickly switch between different operational modes and configurations by simply triggering the appropriate pre-prepared procedures rather than building them from scratch.
2Adaptability or versatility
If OT systems are simulated with static models, then model simplicity is maintained, but the ability to reflect real-time operational changes is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the OT system into multiple discrete operational procedures, each representing a specific operational change or configuration modification. This segmentation allows the complex system to be modeled as a collection of manageable, independently executable procedures that can be selectively applied based on the simulation scenario, reducing overall model complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal operational procedures module that can handle multiple types of OT operational changes through a common framework. This multi-functional approach allows the same base model structure to support various operational procedures (e.g., equipment startup, shutdown, mode changes) without requiring separate specialized models for each scenario, thereby managing complexity while maintaining versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic reconfiguration is implemented in simulation models, then real-time adaptability is achieved, but computational resources and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-computes and stores multiple operational procedures with their associated parameter changes and configuration modifications. When a reconfiguration is needed during simulation, the system simply retrieves and executes the appropriate pre-computed procedure rather than performing complex calculations in real-time, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining near real-time reconfiguration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements incremental updating mechanisms where only the specific parameters and components affected by an operational procedure are modified, rather than reconfiguring the entire system model. This dynamic selective updating approach minimizes computational overhead and processing time while achieving the necessary reconfiguration speed for near real-time simulation.
Data Source
AI summary
A simulation and emulation system for critical infrastructure comprising one or more components, the system comprising at least one processing circuitry configured to: obtain a model including: a plurality of Dynamic Digital Emulation Models (DDEMs), and one or more operational procedures configured to cause reconfiguration of one or more of the DDEMs upon events taking place; execute one or more scenarios comprised of a sequence of one or more actions on the model, at least one of the actions causes triggering at least one of the events, thereby causing changes to one or more of parameters of one or more first DDEMs of the DDEMs, the changes triggers execution of one or more operational procedures, thereby causing reconfiguration of one or more second DDEMs of the DDEMs; analyze the model to identify implications of the scenarios execution; and perform one or more actions based on results of the analysis.