diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index d8841b7..cff1cbb 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ test:
     BASE_PATH: /api
     MODE: release
   services:
-    - postgres:latest
+    - postgres:12
     - rabbitmq:3.8
     - name: minio/minio:RELEASE.2021-01-16T02-19-44Z
       command: ['server', '/minio']
diff --git a/configuration/config.go b/configuration/config.go
index b884627..1c316e9 100644
--- a/configuration/config.go
+++ b/configuration/config.go
@@ -38,7 +38,12 @@ import (
 // Global configuration
 var GlobalConfig *config.Config = nil
 
-var ScenarioGroupMap = map[string][]int{}
+type GroupedScenario struct {
+	Scenario  int  `yaml:"scenario"`
+	Duplicate bool `default:"false" yaml:"duplicate"`
+}
+
+var ScenarioGroupMap = map[string][]GroupedScenario{}
 
 func InitConfig() error {
 	if GlobalConfig != nil {
@@ -76,7 +81,7 @@ func InitConfig() error {
 		contactName              = flag.String("contact-name", "Steffen Vogel", "Name of the administrative contact")
 		contactMail              = flag.String("contact-mail", "svogel2@eonerc.rwth-aachen.de", "EMail of the administrative contact")
 		testDataPath             = flag.String("test-data-path", "", "The path to a test data json file")
-		groupsPath               = flag.String("groups-path", "configuration/groups.yaml", "The path to a YAML file that maps user groups to scenario IDs")
+		groupsPath               = flag.String("groups-path", "", "The path to a YAML file that maps user groups to scenario IDs")
 		apiUpdateInterval        = flag.String("api-update-interval", "10s" /* 10 sec */, "Interval in which API URL is queried for status updates of ICs")
 		rancherURL               = flag.String("rancher-url", "rancher.k8s.eonerc.rwth-aachen.de", "URL of Rancher instance that is used to deploy the backend")
 		k8sCluster               = flag.String("k8s-cluster", "local", "Name of the Kubernetes cluster where the backend is deployed")
@@ -182,35 +187,45 @@ func InitConfig() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func remove(arr []GroupedScenario, index int) []GroupedScenario {
+	arr[index] = arr[len(arr)-1]
+	return arr[:len(arr)-1]
+}
+
 func ReadGroupsFile(path string) error {
 
 	_, err := os.Stat(path)
-
-	if err == nil {
-
-		yamlFile, err := os.Open(path)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("error opening yaml file for groups: %v", err)
-		}
-		log.Println("Successfully opened yaml groups file", path)
-
-		defer yamlFile.Close()
-
-		byteValue, _ := ioutil.ReadAll(yamlFile)
-
-		err = yaml.Unmarshal(byteValue, &ScenarioGroupMap)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("error unmarshalling yaml into ScenarioGroupMap: %v", err)
-		}
-
-		log.Println("ScenarioGroupMap", ScenarioGroupMap)
-
-		return nil
-	} else if os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		log.Println("File does not exist, no goups/scenarios mapping created:", path)
-		return nil
-	} else {
-		log.Println("Something is wrong with this file path:", path)
-		return nil
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
+
+	yamlFile, err := os.Open(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("error opening yaml file for groups: %v", err)
+	}
+	log.Println("Successfully opened yaml groups file", path)
+
+	defer yamlFile.Close()
+
+	byteValue, _ := ioutil.ReadAll(yamlFile)
+
+	err = yaml.Unmarshal(byteValue, &ScenarioGroupMap)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("error unmarshalling yaml into ScenarioGroupMap: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	for _, group := range ScenarioGroupMap {
+		for i, scenario := range group {
+			// remove invalid values that might have been introduced by typos
+			// (Unmarshal sets default values when it doesn't find a field)
+			if scenario.Scenario == 0 {
+				log.Println("Removing entry from ScenarioGroupMap, check for typos in the yaml!")
+				remove(group, i)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	log.Println("ScenarioGroupMap", ScenarioGroupMap)
+
+	return nil
 }
diff --git a/configuration/groups.yaml b/configuration/groups.yaml
index fec1fbf..c30058f 100644
--- a/configuration/groups.yaml
+++ b/configuration/groups.yaml
@@ -1,12 +1,16 @@
-moodle-l2pmanager@13306:
-  - 1
-  - 2
-  - 3
+# Warning: this file is used for testing - please consider when making changes
+moodle-l2pmanager@13306:
+  - scenario: 1
+  - scenario: 2
+  - scenario: 3
 testGroup1:
-  - 4
-  - 5
-  - 6
+  - scenario: 1
+    duplicate: true
+  - scenario: 2
+    duplicate: false
+  - scenario: 3
 testGroup2:
-  - 7
-  - 8
-  - 9
+  - scenario: 1
+  - scenario: 4
+    duplicate: true
+  - scenario: 2
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/helper/amqp_session.go b/helper/amqp_session.go
index fc80d79..8e7b3a0 100644
--- a/helper/amqp_session.go
+++ b/helper/amqp_session.go
@@ -134,29 +134,6 @@ func (session *AMQPsession) handleReInit(conn *amqp.Connection) bool {
 
 // init will initialize channel & declare queue
 func (session *AMQPsession) init(conn *amqp.Connection) error {
-	ch, err := conn.Channel()
-
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	err = ch.Confirm(false)
-
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	_, err = ch.QueueDeclare(
-		session.name,
-		false, // Durable
-		false, // Delete when unused
-		false, // Exclusive
-		false, // No-wait
-		nil,   // Arguments
-	)
-
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 
 	// create sendCh
 	sendCh, err := conn.Channel()
@@ -176,10 +153,10 @@ func (session *AMQPsession) init(conn *amqp.Connection) error {
 	}
 
 	// add a queue for the ICs
-	ICQueue, err := sendCh.QueueDeclare("infrastructure_components",
+	ICQueue, err := sendCh.QueueDeclare("",
+		false,
+		true,
 		true,
-		false,
-		false,
 		false,
 		nil)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/helper/utilities.go b/helper/utilities.go
index 1a2f795..4cb600e 100644
--- a/helper/utilities.go
+++ b/helper/utilities.go
@@ -62,3 +62,13 @@ func Find(slice []string, val string) (int, bool) {
 	}
 	return -1, false
 }
+
+// Returns whether slice contains the given element
+func Contains(slice []uint, element uint) bool {
+	for _, elem := range slice {
+		if elem == element {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/routes/file/file_methods.go b/routes/file/file_methods.go
index 5803db8..788d123 100644
--- a/routes/file/file_methods.go
+++ b/routes/file/file_methods.go
@@ -227,11 +227,15 @@ func (f *File) Delete() error {
 
 	// delete file from s3 bucket
 	if f.Key != "" {
-		err = f.deleteS3()
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		log.Println("Deleted file in S3 object storage")
+		// TODO we do not delete the file from s3 object storage
+		// to ensure that no data is lost if multiple File objects reference the same S3 data object
+		// This behavior should be replaced by a different file handling in the future
+		//err = f.deleteS3()
+		//if err != nil {
+		//	return err
+		//}
+		//log.Println("Deleted file in S3 object storage")
+		log.Println("Did NOT delete file in S3 object storage!")
 	}
 
 	err = db.Model(&so).Association("Files").Delete(f).Error
diff --git a/routes/infrastructure-component/ic_amqpmethods.go b/routes/infrastructure-component/ic_amqpmethods.go
index 954ad84..5126115 100644
--- a/routes/infrastructure-component/ic_amqpmethods.go
+++ b/routes/infrastructure-component/ic_amqpmethods.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/streadway/amqp"
 	"log"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 )
 
 type Action struct {
@@ -74,6 +75,50 @@ type ICUpdate struct {
 	Action     string       `json:"action"`
 }
 
+type Container struct {
+	Name  string `json:"name"`
+	Image string `json:"image"`
+}
+
+type TemplateSpec struct {
+	Containers []Container `json:"containers"`
+}
+
+type JobTemplate struct {
+	Spec TemplateSpec `json:"spec"`
+}
+
+type JobSpec struct {
+	Active   string      `json:"activeDeadlineSeconds"`
+	Template JobTemplate `json:"template"`
+}
+
+type JobMetaData struct {
+	JobName string `json:"name"`
+}
+
+type KubernetesJob struct {
+	Spec     JobSpec     `json:"spec"`
+	MetaData JobMetaData `json:"metadata"`
+}
+
+type ICPropertiesToCopy struct {
+	Job         KubernetesJob `json:"job"`
+	UUID        string        `json:"uuid"`
+	Name        string        `json:"name"`
+	Description string        `json:"description"`
+	Location    string        `json:"location"`
+	Owner       string        `json:"owner"`
+	Category    string        `json:"category"`
+	Type        string        `json:"type"`
+}
+
+type ICUpdateToCopy struct {
+	Properties ICPropertiesToCopy `json:"properties"`
+	Status     json.RawMessage    `json:"status"`
+	Schema     json.RawMessage    `json:"schema"`
+}
+
 func ProcessMessage(message amqp.Delivery) {
 
 	var payload ICUpdate
@@ -271,3 +316,42 @@ func sendActionAMQP(action Action, destinationUUID string) error {
 	err = session.Send(payload, destinationUUID)
 	return err
 }
+
+func (s *InfrastructureComponent) RequestICcreateAMQPsimpleManager(userName string) (string, error) {
+
+	//WARNING: this function only works with the kubernetes-simple manager of VILLAScontroller
+	if s.Category != "simulator" || s.Type == "kubernetes" {
+		return "", nil
+	}
+
+	newUUID := uuid.New().String()
+	log.Printf("New IC UUID: %s", newUUID)
+
+	var lastUpdate ICUpdateToCopy
+	log.Println(s.StatusUpdateRaw.RawMessage)
+	err := json.Unmarshal(s.StatusUpdateRaw.RawMessage, &lastUpdate)
+	if err != nil {
+		return newUUID, err
+	}
+
+	msg := `{"name": "` + lastUpdate.Properties.Name + ` ` + userName + `",` +
+		`"location": "` + lastUpdate.Properties.Location + `",` +
+		`"category": "` + lastUpdate.Properties.Category + `",` +
+		`"type": "` + lastUpdate.Properties.Type + `",` +
+		`"uuid": "` + newUUID + `",` +
+		`"jobname": "` + lastUpdate.Properties.Job.MetaData.JobName + `-` + userName + `",` +
+		`"activeDeadlineSeconds": "` + lastUpdate.Properties.Job.Spec.Active + `",` +
+		`"containername": "` + lastUpdate.Properties.Job.Spec.Template.Spec.Containers[0].Name + `-` + userName + `",` +
+		`"image": "` + lastUpdate.Properties.Job.Spec.Template.Spec.Containers[0].Image + `",` +
+		`"uuid": "` + newUUID + `"}`
+
+	actionCreate := Action{
+		Act:        "create",
+		When:       time.Now().Unix(),
+		Parameters: json.RawMessage(msg),
+	}
+
+	err = sendActionAMQP(actionCreate, s.Manager)
+
+	return newUUID, err
+}
diff --git a/routes/infrastructure-component/ic_apiquery.go b/routes/infrastructure-component/ic_apiquery.go
index 36b20fc..4ce88e6 100644
--- a/routes/infrastructure-component/ic_apiquery.go
+++ b/routes/infrastructure-component/ic_apiquery.go
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ func QueryICAPIs(d time.Duration) {
 
 					// create the update and update IC in DB
 					var x InfrastructureComponent
-					err = x.byID(ic.ID)
+					err = x.ByID(ic.ID)
 					if err != nil {
 						log.Println("Error getting villas-node gateway by ID", ic.Name, err)
 						continue
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ func QueryICAPIs(d time.Duration) {
 
 					// create the update and update IC in DB
 					var x InfrastructureComponent
-					err = x.byID(ic.ID)
+					err = x.ByID(ic.ID)
 					if err != nil {
 						log.Println("Error getting villas-relay manager by ID", ic.Name, err)
 						continue
diff --git a/routes/infrastructure-component/ic_methods.go b/routes/infrastructure-component/ic_methods.go
index 7c9c307..e239883 100644
--- a/routes/infrastructure-component/ic_methods.go
+++ b/routes/infrastructure-component/ic_methods.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func (s *InfrastructureComponent) save() error {
 	return err
 }
 
-func (s *InfrastructureComponent) byID(id uint) error {
+func (s *InfrastructureComponent) ByID(id uint) error {
 	db := database.GetDB()
 	err := db.Find(s, id).Error
 	return err
diff --git a/routes/infrastructure-component/ic_middleware.go b/routes/infrastructure-component/ic_middleware.go
index 3125d5b..a5c7d5a 100644
--- a/routes/infrastructure-component/ic_middleware.go
+++ b/routes/infrastructure-component/ic_middleware.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func CheckPermissions(c *gin.Context, modeltype database.ModelName, operation da
 			return false, s
 		}
 
-		err = s.byID(uint(ICID))
+		err = s.ByID(uint(ICID))
 		if helper.DBError(c, err) {
 			return false, s
 		}
diff --git a/routes/user/authenticate_endpoint.go b/routes/user/authenticate_endpoint.go
index 1715f9e..807d061 100644
--- a/routes/user/authenticate_endpoint.go
+++ b/routes/user/authenticate_endpoint.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import (
 	"git.rwth-aachen.de/acs/public/villas/web-backend-go/configuration"
 	"git.rwth-aachen.de/acs/public/villas/web-backend-go/database"
 	"git.rwth-aachen.de/acs/public/villas/web-backend-go/helper"
+	infrastructure_component "git.rwth-aachen.de/acs/public/villas/web-backend-go/routes/infrastructure-component"
 	"github.com/dgrijalva/jwt-go"
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
 )
@@ -237,7 +238,11 @@ func authenticateExternal(c *gin.Context) (User, error) {
 	groups := strings.Split(c.Request.Header.Get("X-Forwarded-Groups"), ",")
 	// preferred_username := c.Request.Header.Get("X-Forwarded-Preferred-Username")
 
-	if err := myUser.ByUsername(username); err != nil {
+	// check if user already exists
+	err := myUser.ByUsername(username)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		// this is the first login, create new user
 		role := "User"
 		if _, found := helper.Find(groups, "admin"); found {
 			role = "Admin"
@@ -252,28 +257,314 @@ func authenticateExternal(c *gin.Context) (User, error) {
 		log.Printf("Created new external user %s (id=%d)", myUser.Username, myUser.ID)
 	}
 
-	// Add users to scenarios based on static map
+	// Add users to scenarios based on static groups map
 	db := database.GetDB()
 	for _, group := range groups {
-		if soIDs, ok := configuration.ScenarioGroupMap[group]; ok {
-			for _, soID := range soIDs {
+		if groupedArr, ok := configuration.ScenarioGroupMap[group]; ok {
+			for _, groupedScenario := range groupedArr {
 				var so database.Scenario
-				err := db.Find(&so, soID).Error
+				err := db.Find(&so, groupedScenario.Scenario).Error
 				if err != nil {
-					log.Printf("Failed to add user %s (id=%d) to scenario %s (id=%d): %s\n", myUser.Username, myUser.ID, so.Name, so.ID, err)
+					log.Printf(`Cannot find scenario %s (id=%d) for adding/duplication.
+					Affecting user %s (id=%d): %s\n`, so.Name, so.ID, myUser.Username, myUser.ID, err)
 					continue
 				}
 
-				err = db.Model(&so).Association("Users").Append(&(myUser.User)).Error
-				if err != nil {
-					log.Printf("Failed to add user %s (id=%d) to scenario %s (id=%d): %s\n", myUser.Username, myUser.ID, so.Name, so.ID, err)
-					continue
+				duplicateName := fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", so.Name, myUser.Username)
+				alreadyDuplicated := isAlreadyDuplicated(duplicateName)
+				if alreadyDuplicated {
+					log.Printf("Scenario %d already duplicated for user %s", so.ID, myUser.Username)
+					return myUser, nil
 				}
 
-				log.Printf("Added user %s (id=%d) to scenario %s (id=%d)", myUser.Username, myUser.ID, so.Name, so.ID)
+				if groupedScenario.Duplicate {
+					if err := <-duplicateScenarioForUser(&so, &myUser.User); err != nil {
+						return User{}, err
+					}
+				} else { // add user to scenario
+					err = db.Model(&so).Association("Users").Append(&(myUser.User)).Error
+					if err != nil {
+						log.Printf("Failed to add user %s (id=%d) to scenario %s (id=%d): %s\n", myUser.Username, myUser.ID, so.Name, so.ID, err)
+						continue
+					}
+					log.Printf("Added user %s (id=%d) to scenario %s (id=%d)", myUser.Username, myUser.ID, so.Name, so.ID)
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
 	return myUser, nil
 }
+
+func isAlreadyDuplicated(duplicatedName string) bool {
+	db := database.GetDB()
+	var scenarios []database.Scenario
+	db.Find(&scenarios, "name = ?", duplicatedName)
+
+	return (len(scenarios) > 0)
+}
+
+func duplicateScenarioForUser(so *database.Scenario, user *database.User) <-chan error {
+	errs := make(chan error, 1)
+
+	go func() {
+
+		// get all component configs of the scenario
+		db := database.GetDB()
+		var configs []database.ComponentConfiguration
+		err := db.Order("ID asc").Model(so).Related(&configs, "ComponentConfigurations").Error
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Printf("Warning: scenario to duplicate (id=%d) has no component configurations", so.ID)
+		}
+
+		// iterate over component configs to check for ICs to duplicate
+		duplicatedICuuids := make(map[uint]string) // key: original icID; value: UUID of duplicate
+		var externalUUIDs []string                 // external ICs to wait for
+		for _, config := range configs {
+			icID := config.ICID
+			if duplicatedICuuids[icID] != "" { // this IC was already added
+				continue
+			}
+
+			var ic infrastructure_component.InfrastructureComponent
+			err = ic.ByID(icID)
+
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Printf("Cannot find IC with id %d in DB, will not duplicate for User %s", icID, user.Username)
+				continue
+			}
+
+			// create new kubernetes simulator OR use existing IC
+			if ic.Category == "simulator" && ic.Type == "kubernetes" {
+				duplicateUUID, err := ic.RequestICcreateAMQPsimpleManager(user.Username)
+				if err != nil {
+					log.Printf("Duplication of IC (id=%d) unsuccessful, err: %s", icID, err)
+					continue
+				}
+
+				duplicatedICuuids[ic.ID] = duplicateUUID
+				externalUUIDs = append(externalUUIDs, duplicateUUID)
+			} else { // use existing IC
+				duplicatedICuuids[ic.ID] = ""
+				err = nil
+			}
+		}
+
+		// copy scenario after all new external ICs are in DB
+		icsToWaitFor := len(externalUUIDs)
+		var duplicatedScenario database.Scenario
+		var timeout = 20 // seconds
+
+		for i := 0; i < timeout; i++ {
+			// duplicate scenario after all duplicated ICs have been found in the DB
+			if icsToWaitFor == 0 {
+				err := duplicateScenario(so, &duplicatedScenario, duplicatedICuuids, user.Username)
+				if err != nil {
+					errs <- fmt.Errorf("duplicate scenario %v fails with error %v", so.Name, err.Error())
+				}
+
+				// associate user to new scenario
+				err = db.Model(&duplicatedScenario).Association("Users").Append(user).Error
+				if err != nil {
+					log.Printf("Could not associate User %s to scenario %d", user.Username, duplicatedScenario.ID)
+				}
+				log.Println("Associated user to duplicated scenario")
+
+				close(errs)
+				return
+			} else {
+				time.Sleep(1 * time.Second)
+			}
+
+			// check for new ICs with previously created UUIDs
+			for _, uuid := range externalUUIDs {
+				if uuid == "" {
+					continue
+				}
+				log.Printf("Looking for duplicated IC with UUID %s", uuid)
+				var duplicatedIC database.InfrastructureComponent
+				err = db.Find(&duplicatedIC, "UUID = ?", uuid).Error
+				if err != nil {
+					log.Printf("Error looking up duplicated IC: %s", err)
+				} else {
+					icsToWaitFor--
+					uuid = ""
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		close(errs)
+		log.Printf("ALERT! Timed out while waiting for IC duplication, scenario not properly duplicated")
+	}()
+
+	return errs
+}
+
+func duplicateComponentConfig(config *database.ComponentConfiguration,
+	duplicateSo *database.Scenario, icIds map[uint]string, userName string, signalMap *map[uint]uint) error {
+	var configDpl database.ComponentConfiguration
+	configDpl.Name = config.Name
+	configDpl.StartParameters = config.StartParameters
+	configDpl.ScenarioID = duplicateSo.ID
+	configDpl.OutputMapping = config.OutputMapping
+	configDpl.InputMapping = config.InputMapping
+
+	db := database.GetDB()
+	if icIds[config.ICID] == "" {
+		configDpl.ICID = config.ICID
+	} else {
+		var duplicatedIC database.InfrastructureComponent
+		err := db.Find(&duplicatedIC, "UUID = ?", icIds[config.ICID]).Error
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Print(err)
+			return err
+		}
+		configDpl.ICID = duplicatedIC.ID
+	}
+	err := db.Create(&configDpl).Error
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Print(err)
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// get all signals corresponding to component config
+	var sigs []database.Signal
+	err = db.Order("ID asc").Model(&config).Related(&sigs, "OutputMapping").Error
+	smap := *signalMap
+	for _, signal := range sigs {
+		var sig database.Signal
+		sig.Direction = signal.Direction
+		sig.Index = signal.Index
+		sig.Name = signal.Name + ` ` + userName
+		sig.ScalingFactor = signal.ScalingFactor
+		sig.Unit = signal.Unit
+		sig.ConfigID = configDpl.ID
+		err = db.Create(&sig).Error
+		if err == nil {
+			smap[signal.ID] = sig.ID
+		}
+	}
+
+	return err
+}
+
+func duplicateScenario(so *database.Scenario, duplicateSo *database.Scenario, icIds map[uint]string, userName string) error {
+	duplicateSo.Name = so.Name + ` ` + userName
+	duplicateSo.StartParameters.RawMessage = so.StartParameters.RawMessage
+	db := database.GetDB()
+	err := db.Create(&duplicateSo).Error
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("Could not create duplicate of scenario %d", so.ID)
+		return err
+	}
+
+	err = duplicateFiles(so, duplicateSo)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	var configs []database.ComponentConfiguration
+	// map existing signal IDs to duplicated signal IDs for widget duplication
+	signalMap := make(map[uint]uint)
+	err = db.Order("ID asc").Model(so).Related(&configs, "ComponentConfigurations").Error
+	if err == nil {
+		for _, config := range configs {
+			err = duplicateComponentConfig(&config, duplicateSo, icIds, userName, &signalMap)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return duplicateDashboards(so, duplicateSo, signalMap, userName)
+}
+
+func duplicateFiles(originalSo *database.Scenario, duplicateSo *database.Scenario) error {
+	db := database.GetDB()
+	var files []database.File
+	err := db.Order("ID asc").Model(originalSo).Related(&files, "Files").Error
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("error getting files for scenario %d", originalSo.ID)
+	}
+
+	for _, file := range files {
+		var duplicateF database.File
+		duplicateF.Name = file.Name
+		duplicateF.Key = file.Key
+		duplicateF.Type = file.Type
+		duplicateF.Size = file.Size
+		duplicateF.Date = file.Date
+		duplicateF.ScenarioID = duplicateSo.ID
+		duplicateF.FileData = file.FileData
+		duplicateF.ImageHeight = file.ImageHeight
+		duplicateF.ImageWidth = file.ImageWidth
+		err = db.Create(&duplicateF).Error
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Print("error creating duplicate file")
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func duplicateDashboards(originalSo *database.Scenario, duplicateSo *database.Scenario,
+	signalMap map[uint]uint, userName string) error {
+
+	db := database.GetDB()
+	var dabs []database.Dashboard
+	err := db.Order("ID asc").Model(originalSo).Related(&dabs, "Dashboards").Error
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("Error getting dashboards for scenario %d: %s", originalSo.ID, err)
+	}
+
+	for _, dab := range dabs {
+		var duplicateD database.Dashboard
+		duplicateD.Grid = dab.Grid
+		duplicateD.Name = dab.Name + ` ` + userName
+		duplicateD.ScenarioID = duplicateSo.ID
+		duplicateD.Height = dab.Height
+		err = db.Create(&duplicateD).Error
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Printf("Error creating duplicate dashboard '%s': %s", dab.Name, err)
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// add widgets to duplicated dashboards
+		var widgets []database.Widget
+		err = db.Order("ID asc").Model(&dab).Related(&widgets, "Widgets").Error
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Printf("Error getting widgets for dashboard %d: %s", dab.ID, err)
+		}
+		for _, widget := range widgets {
+			var duplicateW database.Widget
+			duplicateW.DashboardID = duplicateD.ID
+			duplicateW.CustomProperties = widget.CustomProperties
+			duplicateW.Height = widget.Height
+			duplicateW.Width = widget.Width
+			duplicateW.MinHeight = widget.MinHeight
+			duplicateW.MinWidth = widget.MinWidth
+			duplicateW.Name = widget.Name
+			duplicateW.Type = widget.Type
+			duplicateW.X = widget.X
+			duplicateW.Y = widget.Y
+
+			duplicateW.SignalIDs = []int64{}
+			for _, id := range widget.SignalIDs {
+				duplicateW.SignalIDs = append(duplicateW.SignalIDs, int64(signalMap[uint(id)]))
+			}
+
+			err = db.Create(&duplicateW).Error
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Print("error creating duplicate widget")
+				continue
+			}
+			// associate dashboard with simulation
+			err = db.Model(&duplicateD).Association("Widgets").Append(&duplicateW).Error
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Printf("Error associating duplicate widget and dashboard: %s", err)
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/routes/user/user_test.go b/routes/user/user_test.go
index 12db59d..c109cba 100644
--- a/routes/user/user_test.go
+++ b/routes/user/user_test.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"os"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	"git.rwth-aachen.de/acs/public/villas/web-backend-go/helper"
@@ -130,6 +131,43 @@ func TestAuthenticate(t *testing.T) {
 
 }
 
+func TestUserGroups(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create new user
+	// (user, email and groups are read from request headers in real case)
+	var myUser User
+	username := "Fridolin"
+	email := "Fridolin@rwth-aachen.de"
+	role := "User"
+	userGroups := strings.Split("testGroup1,testGroup2", ",")
+
+	err := myUser.ByUsername(username)
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	myUser, err = NewUser(username, "", email, role, true)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Read groups file
+	err = configuration.ReadGroupsFile("notexisting.yaml")
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+
+	err = configuration.ReadGroupsFile("../../configuration/groups.yaml")
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Check whether duplicate flag is saved correctly in configuration
+	for _, group := range userGroups {
+		if gsarray, ok := configuration.ScenarioGroupMap[group]; ok {
+			for _, groupedScenario := range gsarray {
+				if group == "testGroup1" && groupedScenario.Scenario == 1 {
+					assert.Equal(t, true, groupedScenario.Duplicate)
+				} else if group == "testGroup2" && groupedScenario.Scenario == 4 {
+					assert.Equal(t, true, groupedScenario.Duplicate)
+				} else {
+					assert.Equal(t, false, groupedScenario.Duplicate)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestAuthenticateQueryToken(t *testing.T) {
 
 	database.DropTables()
diff --git a/start.go b/start.go
index 10f2f70..d123e91 100644
--- a/start.go
+++ b/start.go
@@ -23,14 +23,14 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"git.rwth-aachen.de/acs/public/villas/web-backend-go/helper"
-	"git.rwth-aachen.de/acs/public/villas/web-backend-go/routes/healthz"
 	"log"
 	"time"
 
 	"git.rwth-aachen.de/acs/public/villas/web-backend-go/configuration"
 	"git.rwth-aachen.de/acs/public/villas/web-backend-go/database"
+	"git.rwth-aachen.de/acs/public/villas/web-backend-go/helper"
 	"git.rwth-aachen.de/acs/public/villas/web-backend-go/routes"
+	"git.rwth-aachen.de/acs/public/villas/web-backend-go/routes/healthz"
 	infrastructure_component "git.rwth-aachen.de/acs/public/villas/web-backend-go/routes/infrastructure-component"
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
 	"github.com/zpatrick/go-config"
@@ -90,16 +90,15 @@ func main() {
 		log.Fatalf("Error reading port from global configuration: %s, aborting.", err)
 	}
 
-	gPath, err := configuration.GlobalConfig.String("groups.path")
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("Error reading path to groups YAML file: %s, aborting.", err)
-	}
+	gPath, _ := configuration.GlobalConfig.String("groups.path")
 
 	if gPath != "" {
 		err = configuration.ReadGroupsFile(gPath)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Fatalf("Error reading groups YAML file: %s, aborting.", err)
 		}
+	} else {
+		log.Println("WARNING: path to groups yaml file not set, I am not initializing the scenario-groups mapping.")
 	}
 
 	// Init database