Sentar Inc., a women-owned small business specializing in advanced cyber intelligence solutions, has secured a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).

This contract allows Sentar to incorporate cyber attack protection technology into Digital Twin architectures, enhancing operational resilience and guarding against emerging cyber threats in operational technology (OT) systems.

Digital Twin architectures refer to a concept in which a virtual replica or representation of a physical system is created in the digital world. This digital counterpart, known as a “Digital Twin,” mirrors the real-world system’s characteristics, behaviors, and functionalities.

This means that, during the SBIR Phase I Proof of Concept, Sentar will be creating a virtual model or duplicate of the physical manufacturing system in a digital environment. By doing so, they can analyze, map, and predict potential cyber attacks on this virtual representation before they happen in the actual operational technology (OT) system.

This approach empowers the DLA to proactively defend against both known and unknown vulnerabilities, ensuring the safety of critical network infrastructure, systems, and data.

Gary Mayes, Senior Director of Research and Development at Sentar, expressed gratitude for being selected for this vital SBIR contract.

“Integrating our cyber attack analysis and prediction technology into Digital Twin architectures will provide a new level of awareness and protection for operational technology systems, safeguarding them from malicious cyber actors and potential damage,” said Mayes in a recent press statement.

The work will be carried out in Huntsville, AL, starting immediately.