Genomics Cybersecurity Concerns, Challenges, and a Modular Test Lab

Jared Sheldon, Scott Ross, Thomas Morris, Isabelle Brown, Feng Zhu, Patrick Pape, Phillip Whitlow

Abstract: Genomic data has very high value and presents its own cybersecurity challenges and concerns due to its characteristics. In order to effectively secure this valuable genomic data, it is important to understand the life cycle that creates the data, the hardware and software used, the users involved, and the challenges and concerns involved in securing genomic data. Building off of previous work done by the National Institute of Standards and Technology on NIST IR 8432, our team undertook a research review to further understand the state of cybersecurity research in the field. Then, we performed a field study by interviewing specialists and touring facilities at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology to gain a further understanding of cybersecurity in practice for real-world genomics labs. Based on our research review and field study with HudsonAlpha, a high-level theoretical biocybersecurity test lab for genomics was designed that mimics a functional genomics lab to allow for cybersecurity testing of new tools and techniques used to protect genomic data, secure devices, and maintain the integrity of genomic data throughout its life cycle. This research can impact cybersecurity for genomic data by providing a research review, a field study, and a high-level biocybersecurity lab design in one place for future work to build off of. This work constitutes a step in taking the challenges presented by cybersecurity for genomics and creating a cybersecurity test lab that can address them.

External IDs:doi:10.1145/3603287.3651215