Security of DNA Data Storage and DNA for Cybersecurity: A Dual Perspective

With recent advances in biotechnologies, DNA is a highly versatile medium enabling both the reading (sequencing) and writing (synthesis) of DNA strands. Offering high density and long-term stability, it is a promising candidate for data storage, especially as data production continues to grow exponentially. At the same time, since the DNA data storage technology is still in development, there is an opportunity to incorporate strong security features before widespread deployment, avoiding thus the mistakes made in the past with digital hard drive security. In addition, the specific properties and mechanisms of DNA can be at the origin of new paradigms for cybersecurity, inspiring alternative ways like new cryptographic systems to protect digital information. In this chapter, we provide a dual perspective on DNA and cybersecurity. Namely, a first section will focus on security needs for the DNA data storage chain. We will perform a first-of-its-kind risk analysis to identify security vulnerabilities in the chain, and outline a succinct state-of-the-art on digital as well as biomolecular and biochemical counter-measures to secure the DNA storage chain. Then, a second section will present contributions of DNA to cybersecurity, through DNA-based and DNA-inspired methods for confidentiality, secret communications, encryption key generation, ownership protection of living organisms and more.