Blockchains as security-enabler for industrial IoT-applications

Abstract

Purpose - This paper aims to describe a method for Internet-of-Things-devices to achieve industrial grade reliability for information transfer from wireless sensor systems to production systems using blockchain technologies. Design/methodology/approach - An increased security and reliability of submitted data within the sensor network could be achieved on an application level. Therefore, a lightweight, high-level communication protocol based on blockchain principles was designed. Findings - Blockchain mechanisms can secure the wireless communication of Internet-of-Things-devices in a lightweight and scalable manner. Originality/value - The innovation of this research is the successful application of general blockchain mechanisms to increase security of a wireless sensor system without binding to a dedicated blockchain technology.

Keywords

• Blockchain
• Smart production
• Sensor networks
• Oracles
• Smart contracts
• (industrial) internet-of-things