A Simulation Tool for Security in ZigBee-Based IoT Networks

Abstract

The rapid development of IoT technologies leads to their wide use in various spheres of life such as healthcare, agriculture, automotive, etc. IoT devices generate a large amount of data, which, if accessed without authorization, can lead to problems for both organizations and individuals. Therefore, security in IoT networks is a critical aspect. Due to the limited computing resources and memory of IoT devices, cryptographic algorithms are often used for their efficiency. One of the widely used cryptographic algorithms in IoT is the symmetric AES algorithm. It is the main encryption algorithm in ZigBee IoT networks. This paper presents the realization of a simulation environment that enables the investigation of the secure connection process of end nodes in a ZigBee wireless IoT network. The developed environment makes it possible to simulate the process of the secure connection of an end device in a ZigBee network. The simulation makes it possible to trace the process of obtaining an encrypted network key from the trust center based on ZigBee specifications. It is also possible to simulate the process of denying access of an end device to the network. The simulation environment implements network key encryption using the install code or a well-known key defined by the ZigBee Alliance. The encryption functionality in the simulator is realized through the implementation of the AES cryptographic algorithm.

Keywords

• Internet of Things
• network security
• cryptography
• ZigBee
• AES
• simulation