Cyber-biological convergence: a systematic review and future outlook

Area of Science:

• Cybersecurity and Synthetic Biology
• Interdisciplinary research at the intersection of computer science and biological engineering.

Background:

• Engineered biology, akin to computer programming, leverages digital infrastructure for biological system manipulation.
• Unlike traditional software, biological systems possess self-assembly, self-repair, and self-replication capabilities, introducing unique risks.
• The increasing integration of engineered biology into cyberspace necessitates a thorough examination of its cyber implications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the cyber implications of engineered biology.
• To identify and categorize cyber-bio opportunities and threats.
• To explore existing cyberbiosecurity solutions and propose policy recommendations.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of academic, open-source, and grey literature published between 2017 and October 2022.
• Utilized search engines indexing over 60 databases across information security, biology, and other academic disciplines.
• Analysis of 52 relevant studies focusing on engineered biology's cyberspace implications.

Main Results:

• Identified 7 cyber opportunities, including automated bio-foundries.
• Identified 4 cyber threats, such as Artificial Intelligence misuse and biological dataset targeting.
• Highlighted 4 main types of cyberbiosecurity solutions and proposed 9 policy recommendations.

Conclusions:

• Engineered biology presents significant cyber risks and opportunities that require proactive management.
• Developing robust cyberbiosecurity measures and policies is crucial for a secure and thriving bioeconomy.
• Continued research and collaboration are essential to address the evolving cyber-bio landscape.