Forensic readiness of smart buildings: Preconditions for subsequent cybersecurity tests

Abstract

Smart grid and smart buildings are seamlessly interacting together to improve energy usage. Smart buildings accept excess of energy during periods when renewable energy generation is cheap and overflowing. Then, the electric energy is kept for future use and returned to the smart grid when needed. Many advantages exist for smart cities which are focused on the incorporation of smart buildings. The control of smart buildings is supported by dramatically increased embedded systems. This approach is becoming cost-effective and the systems will be almost maintenance-free, involving some or no individuals. Users will also have the ability to simply update settings using their smartphones and other smart devices. However, even with above mentioned advantages, some disadvantages, including cybersecurity risk, are present and therefore, protective measures for a smart world are needed. The consequences of not incorporating cybersecurity and forensic readiness in a smart world could have serious impact if cyber-attack was successfully launched. In addition, a broad Knowledge Management (KM) is needed to obtain increasingly better understanding and handling of cybersecurity issues of smart sensors and other extensively configurable devices. This paper addresses the importance of forensic readiness, digital evidence preservation and interpretation, and knowledge management in a smart world. The approaches we recommend can be further used for subsequent smart (as model-based) cybersecurity tests.