Compliance and feedback based model to measure cloud trustworthiness for hosting digital twins

Abstract Cloud-based digital twins use real-time data from various data sources to simulate the behavior and performance of their physical counterparts, enabling monitoring and analysis. However, one restraining factor in the use of cloud computing for digital twins is its users’ concerns about the security of their data. This data may be located anywhere in the cloud, with very limited control of the user to ensure its security. Cloud-based digital twins provide opportunities for researchers to collaborate yet security of such digital twins requires measures specific to cloud computing. To overcome this shortcoming, we need to devise a mechanism that not only ensures essential security safeguards but also computes a Trustworthiness value for Cloud Service Providers (CSP). This would give confidence to cloud users and enable them to choose the right CSP for their data-related interaction. This research proposes a solution, whereby the Trustworthiness of CSPs is calculated based on their Compliance with data security controls, User Feedback, and Auditor Rating. Two additional factors, Accuracy of Compliance Measurement and Control Significance Factor have been built in, to cater for other nonstandard conditions. Our implementation of Data Security Compliance Monitor and Data Trust as a Service, along with three CSPs, each with ten different settings, has supported our proposition through the devised formula. Experimental outcomes show changes in the trustworthiness value with changes in compliance level, user feedback and auditor rating. CSPs with better compliance have better trustworthiness values. However, if the Accuracy of Compliance Measurement and Control Significance Factor are low the trustworthiness is also proportionately less. This creates a balance and realism in our calculations. This model is unique and will help in creating users’ trust in cloud-based digital twins.