DIGITAL TWIN TECHNOLOGY IN SECURING ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE: VIRTUAL SIMULATIONS FOR REALTIME CYBER SECURITY

ABSTRACT: Modern economy success and societal operations rely heavily on energy infrastructure which makes robust adaptive cybersecurity measures essential for today’s world. With evolving energy systems becoming more extensive and complicated they become easier targets for cyber threats that endanger safety while causing financial damage and disrupting essential business processes. Digital twin technology represents a breakthrough solution that fights against critical threats that protect energy infrastructure. Digital twins reproduce physical systems to connect digital innovations with physical operations thus delivering instant monitoring alongside reactive simulations alongside predictive abilities to protect essential resources. The ability of digital twins to use artificial intelligence and machine learning regulates cybersecurity through realtime anomaly detection and vulnerability prediction alongside proactive threat management. The implementation of virtual systems lets organizations perform threat assessment activities in simulated conditions which ensures both physical asset protection and optimal defense method development. Digital twins find practical adoption in two energy infrastructure scenarios to protect smart grids and integrate renewable power sources. The research analyzes obstacles to widespread implementation that feature exorbitant integration expenses together with privacy challenges and standardization requirements that support system interoperability. It also evaluates real-world applications to demonstrate how digital twins can change the future of cybersecurity protection for energy facilities while presenting solutions for implementation obstacles.