Lightweight Blockchain-Based System for Internet of Things Security

Abstract

Nowadays, smart cities deploy several smart computing technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and interconnected network architecture for the purpose of providing innovative solutions and better collaboration between residents and local governments while maintaining an optimal utilization of the available resources. However, these technologies suffer from some security and privacy issues which are very critical for many applications. Blockchain technology is a valuable infrastructure solution that addresses these issues. The decentralized approach of the blockchain technology facilitates building a resilient ecosystem where IoT devices can function effectively and securely. Moreover, the architecture of the blockchain provides reliable communication by eliminating single point of failure and enabling users to maintain anonymity by employing privacy-preserving cryptographic algorithms. However, employing the blockchain technology in an IoT-based system is challenging due to the centralized nature of IoT-based systems and the resource constraints of its interconnected devices, which lead to several serious security and privacy issues. In this paper, we propose a blockchain infrastructure design that provides security and privacy to IoT-based systems of critical governmental and industrial applications. The proposed design includes a blockchain connected gateway, which adaptively and securely maintains user privacy preferences. Moreover, it handles the blockchain computation instead of overwhelming the IoT devices with heavy computation.