Blockchain-based vs. SQL Database Systems for Digital Twin Evidence Management: A Comparative Forensic Analysis

TL;DR

This paper compares blockchain and SQL database systems for managing digital twin evidence in forensic investigations, highlighting their respective strengths in data integrity, security, and performance.

Contribution

It provides the first controlled experimental comparison between blockchain and traditional databases for digital evidence management in forensics.

Findings

Blockchain offers superior data integrity and immutability.

Traditional databases have better performance consistency.

Blockchain shows faster storage times but higher retrieval variability.

Abstract

Digital forensics faces unprecedented challenges with the emergence of digital twins and metaverse technologies. This paper presents the first comparative analysis between blockchain-based and traditional database systems for managing digital twin evidence in forensic investigations. We conducted controlled experiments comparing the Ethereum blockchain with IPFS storage against traditional SQL databases for digital twin evidence management. Our findings reveal that while blockchain provides superior data integrity and immutability, crucial for forensic applications, traditional databases offer better performance consistency. The blockchain implementation showed faster average storage times but higher variability in retrieval operations. Both systems maintained forensic integrity through hash verification, though blockchain's immutable nature provides additional security guarantees essential for legal proceedings. This research contributes to the development of robust digital forensic methodologies for emerging technologies in the metaverse era.