Research Output Journal of Engineering and Scientific Research 3(2): 26-29, 2024

ROJESR Publications Online ISSN: 1115-9790

https://rojournals.org/roj-engineering-and-scientific-research/ Print ISSN: 1115-6155

Page | 26

The Role of Blockchain in Securing IoT Devices

Mukantabana Phionah K
Faculty of Engineering Kampala International University Uganda
ABSTRACT
The proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to increased concerns over security
vulnerabilities due to the interconnected nature of these devices. This paper explores the application of
blockchain technology as a solution to enhance the security of IoT devices. It examines the integration of
blockchain's decentralized, immutable, and consensus-driven framework to secure data transmission,
prevent unauthorized access, and ensure the integrity of IoT systems. Through case studies and
theoretical analysis, the paper demonstrates the effectiveness of blockchain in addressing security
challenges, including data breaches, device tampering, and cyberattacks, thus contributing to the overall
resilience of IoT infrastructures.
Keywords: Blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), IoT Security, Decentralized Networks, Data Integrity.

INTRODUCTION
The role of blockchain in securing IoT devices revolves around the fundamental process of adding a layer
of security on top of the design to make it more secure and efficient. This essay presents the applications
of blockchain that would strengthen the IoT, the security temperature's stability, and the use of a
prototype blockchain to streamline these fields. The paper's range is mostly concerned with the use of
blockchain technology to improve the IoT. Theoretically, the use of blockchain in the IoT can improve
the protection of various IoT structures and technologies. The optimal output will be achieved using a
key-value store blockchain prototype that implements the consensus mechanism. The initial
implementation of the IoT prototype used the Raspberry Pi microcontroller and several IoT devices. This
test showed a rise in the frequency of messages that passed through the entire network and affected all
entities [1, 2]. The safety of cyberspace has several uses in the globe today, including the Internet of
Things (IoT) technology. Numerous computers and end-user devices in the house, ranging from washing
machines to refrigerators, are linked to the IoT. The majority of these tools have personal information
presented or they integrate some part of the security mechanism to the network itself. "Industrial
Internet of Things" (IIoT) refers to a network of systems and objects developed to collect and analyze
data. The combination of technological innovation, hardware, and ideas behind IIoT improves the
operational efficiency of various companies. One of the key constraints to the acceptance and use of the
IoT, however, is protection. Every element of the IoT, including IoT endpoints, network coordination
systems, and data repositories, is vulnerable to hackers [3].
UNDERSTANDING IOT DEVICES AND THEIR SECURITY CHALLENGES
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network consisting of billions of smart devices connected over the
internet. These connected devices communicate with each other, collect data, and may be controlled
remotely through software and apps. IoT devices are used in various sectors, such as transport,
healthcare, construction, and agriculture. They are classified in many terms like smart devices, smart
gadgets, connected devices, intelligent devices, etc. IoT devices are classified based on different networks
and sensors. From sensors such as motion, temperature, humidity, light, and contact, various network
connectivity's are developed like BLE, Z-wave, Zigbee, Vera (Mi-Casaverde), Wi-Fi, Nest, Apple

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(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Homekit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home. IoT devices range from smart home security systems,
automated appointment reminders, to the healthcare sector, where fitness trackers monitor calorie-
burning, sleeping habits, and the user's heart rate [4, 5]. IoT devices face security challenges due to
limited computational resources and lack of complex cryptographic algorithms. Security protocols are
used to prevent unauthorized access to information. Low-security device manufacturers pose a potential
cyberattack risk. Safety risks include data theft, device harm, and espionage. Main vulnerabilities include
poor policy, network isolation approach, lack of security specialists, and staff education. IoT device Page | 27
weaknesses can lead to substantial disruptions. Misuse of a device can cause software system failure.
Significant security risks are associated with IoT devices [6].
BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
Since its inception, blockchain has become a fundamental technology that is capable of transforming a
variety of sectors ranging from finance to supply chain. The blockchain technology has a utility of
veracity and confidentiality in as much as transactions are regarded. One of the key aspects of the
blockchain technology is decentralization, which implies that the system is not under the control of a
single entity or served by a central unit, but rather every participant in decentralized systems can have a
copy of all the transaction history that happened in the systems [7, 8]. There are two more
characteristics of blockchain technology: immutability and consensus mechanisms. The most popular
consensus mechanisms are Proof of Work (PoW), Proof of Stake (PoS), BFT, and Raft, to name a few.
Immutability is another key feature of blockchain, which means that the data once entered into a
blockchain system cannot be tampered with by any unauthorized entity. The consensus mechanism is
used to maintain agreement on the truth and accuracy of the blockchain data between the participants in
the blockchain systems. While the blockchain technology is being used in various sectors, using
blockchain for secure machine-to-machine communication in the Internet of Things (IoT) is still in its
infancy. The current paper will discuss the role of blockchain technology in securing IoT devices [9].
Patents filed in the IoT field provide insights about companies and research trends in the applications
related to IoT and blockchain. Publishing a paper on the role of blockchain in IoT patents is very
enlightening. The authors stated, in their paper, that payments and clearing, supply chain management,
privacy, security, compliance, IP protection, and trust systems are the major sectors in which blockchain
has an influence for IoT. This can be seen from the distribution of patents [10].
INTEGRATION OF BLOCKCHAIN WITH IOT DEVICES
In addressing security challenges in IoT devices, the integration of smart devices with the blockchain
network is observed. International organizations like Hyperledger have gained attention for advancing
and deploying standardized metamorphosis. Blockchain is seen as a distributed ledger where members
can share or transfer assets, while transactions are recorded in chained blocks. This tamper-proof
database protects IoT devices and reduces liability. The potential for a secure co-constituted blockchain-
IoT system has been proposed [11, 12]. While IoT initiatives present intrusion of a system when
multiple verifications are implemented, the role of EOSD, the usage of initiation process of IoT network
using blockchain to establish topology provides the importance of BIoT in the link of EOSD, to make
possible initiation process of the blockchain. Therefore, making it easy for the role and the functionality of
blockchain takes note of every new participant. It has created a starting of new presents in the blockchain
approaches. Going by making it hard to make universal agreements on every step of IoT devices
preventing the priming of individual IoT devices, every user can make query to the authenticated data of
participants without turning to basic blockchain to query and record the primary listing of the devices
[13].
BENEFITS OF USING BLOCKCHAIN IN SECURING IOT DEVICES
A. Enhanced Security: IoT devices usually transfer large volumes of data at a fast pace, thereby increasing
the chances of vulnerabilities or security threats. Since blockchain secures the transactions and devices
using decentralized, secure, and protected systems, it can guarantee improved security against threats.
B. Data Integrity: Blockchain ensures that once a transaction through IoT devices is recorded, it cannot
be altered. This feasibility can be used to assure data integrity within the transmitted information
through IoT devices.
C. Offers Immutable Audit Trails: Blockchain ledgers record all the transactions, and this has the
potential to develop an immutable audit trail in the ledger for the transactions conducted through the IoT
devices. Centralized systems can be easier to alter for traditional audit trails, but a distributed ledger
customer variant is better at securing the audit trail.

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(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
D. Mitigating Various IoT Security Threats: IoT devices can be attacked by different types of threats like
DDoS attacks, man-in-the-middle, IP Spoofing, and braking system authentication. Blockchain can
mitigate these attacks as it can secure the system and load and data authentication.
Since blockchain uses smart contracts, it can also be used to enhance the level of security in IoT devices.
While smart contracts have received limited success in their desired level of functionality till now, they
need thorough investigation to be fully operational in IoT devices. One of the inherent functionalities of
smart contracts is the need for automation, which is significant in zero-touch network programming and Page | 28
policy-making in IoT devices. The execution of smart contracts ultimately results in enforced logic that
brings the mechanism towards policy-driven control in IoT applications. Every device will have its
properties available on the smart contracts, same as with the devices attributes in IoT. Smart contracts
will work as global-state validators due to their high-level responsibilities when it comes to governing
operations. By having global-state validators, smart contract become a one-point single-
transaction/multi-transaction global controller [14].
CASE STUDIES OF BLOCKCHAIN IMPLEMENTATION IN IOT SECURITY
Some examples of blockchain use in securing IoT devices were given earlier. Benefits include simplified
access control, secure data management, transparent communication, data protection on the blockchain,
and device identification. Blockchain can increase the security of IoT devices and systems. DUK PHONE
uses blockchain to track devices in wireless networks and Ethereum, storing device properties, location,
and owner for access control and location data queries [15, 16]. A successful integration of blockchain
and an AIoT Edge Platform with several protocols (e.g., XACML) and a coherent IP-based security (e.g.,
DTLC) was presented in SPPW by the researchers from the Intel Research Collaboratory on Secure and
Private Workstations. According to the presented study, during the World Forum on Internet of Things
2018, it was confirmed that blockchain may improve the missing part of security needed for IoT
ecosystem's currency ecosystem. The solution designed by the research team referred to applying
blockchain to the Keyless Smart Locking technology. This solution enables an add-on Nuki Bridge smart
home device to manage the smart lock via remote access. A private and unforgeable blockchain is
established for symmetric keys. The smart contract on the blockchain is executed only after the requester
proves the ownership of the private key. This way, the advantage of blockchain, which is theoretically
unforgeable, and the usability of symmetric keys are combined [17, 18].
CONCLUSION
Blockchain technology presents a robust solution to the security challenges faced by IoT devices. By
leveraging its decentralized and immutable nature, blockchain can significantly enhance data integrity,
prevent unauthorized access, and provide secure audit trails for IoT transactions. The integration of
blockchain into IoT not only mitigates various security threats but also paves the way for more secure
and trustworthy IoT ecosystems. As IoT continues to grow, the role of blockchain in ensuring its
security will become increasingly critical, necessitating further research and development to optimize its
application in this field.
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CITATION: Mukantabana Phionah K. The Role of Blockchain in Securing IoT

Devices. Research Output Journal of Engineering and Scientific Research, 2024 3(2):
26-29

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.