Cybersecurity and infrastructure design for art archives

 

Abstract

The digital preservation of art archives necessitates robust cybersecurity and infrastructure solutions to safeguard data integrity and accessibility. This paper explores the security measures and system architecture implemented for an archive, highlighting strategies to protect against cyber threats and ensure operational resilience.

 

1. Introduction

As digital archives grow in size and importance, the need for secure and efficient infrastructure becomes paramount. The preservation of art and culture, valuables cultural and economic asset, requires advanced systems to prevent unauthorized access, data corruption, and cyberattacks.

2. Security Challenges in Digital Art Archives

Digital art archives face unique threats, including:

• Unauthorized Access: Risk of data breaches compromising sensitive materials.
• Data Corruption: Vulnerability to accidental or malicious alteration of archival files.
• System Downtime: Potential disruptions from cyberattacks or hardware failures.
• Long-Term Viability: Ensuring the sustainability of archival systems amid evolving technological landscapes.

 

3. Infrastructure Design

The archive’s infrastructure leverages a multi-layered security approach, integrating hardware and software solutions to minimize risks.

3.1 Server Configuration

• Operating System: FreeBSD with ZFS file system, chosen for its advanced data integrity and snapshot capabilities.
• Storage Redundancy: RAIDZ-1 configuration ensures fault tolerance, protecting against data loss from hardware failures.
• Separation of Systems:
  • Local Archive: Maintains a complete and secure copy of all video files.
  • Remote Access System: Hosts a read-only replica for public consultation, isolating the primary archive from external threats.

3.2 Conversion and Access Systems

• Dedicated Conversion Server: A separate virtual instance handles video file processing, minimizing the risk of accidental modifications to the archive.
• Frontend and Backend Separation:
  • Frontend: User-facing interface for browsing and streaming.
  • Backend: Restricted access for archivists, enabling data updates and management.

 

4. Cybersecurity Measures

To address potential vulnerabilities, the archive implements stringent cybersecurity protocols:

4.1 User Access Control

• Role-Based Permissions:
  • Utility Accounts: Limited to basic query operations (e.g., SELECT).
  • Archivist Accounts: Allow data modification with restricted privileges.
• Dual-Authentication System: Combines password protection and hardware tokens for enhanced security.

4.2 Data Transmission and Storage

• Encrypted Communication: Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption ensures data integrity during transmission.
• Replication Policies:
  • One-way synchronization from local to remote databases prevents unauthorized overwrites.
  • Regular backups to cold storage systems provide additional recovery options.

4.3 System Hardening

• SQL Validation: Early validation and sanitization of queries to prevent injection attacks.
• Stored Procedures: Encapsulation of frequently used operations to minimize exposure to direct database queries.
• Minimal Third-Party Plugins: Avoidance of external CMS plugins to reduce vulnerabilities.

 

5. Operational Resilience

The archive’s infrastructure is designed to ensure high availability and disaster recovery:

• Automated Monitoring: Tools continuously track server performance and detect anomalies.
• Regular Scrubbing: ZFS scrubbing identifies and corrects silent data corruption.
• Disaster Recovery Drills: Periodic simulations test the effectiveness of backup and restoration procedures.

 

6. Conclusion

This case study underscores the importance of a secure, well-designed infrastructure in preserving digital art archives. By combining advanced hardware configurations, robust cybersecurity measures, and operational best practices, the archive achieves a balance between accessibility and protection.

Future enhancements may include the integration of AI-driven threat detection and the adoption of blockchain technology to further enhance data security and traceability.