Enhancing IoT scalability and security through SDN

Abstract

The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices introduces significant challenges in network security and scalability. Software-Defined Networking (SDN) emerges as a promising framework to offer more flexible and intelligent network management capabilities. This paper delves into the integration of SDN principles within an IoT environment to bolster security and scalability. Through a proof-of-concept deployment utilizing the Floodlight controller and Mininet-WiFi, the approach involves the collection and analysis of data on average latency, packet loss, throughput, and jitter to evaluate network performance. Additionally, Python scripts and Wireshark are employed for an in-depth network analysis. The findings illustrate that SDN integration can adeptly manage the augmented network load, evidenced by minimal increases in latency and packet loss, while maintaining acceptable throughput and jitter levels. Furthermore, the Floodlight controller's capability to identify and counter Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks underscores its potential to enhance IoT network security. The results affirm that SDN can significantly elevate the scalability and security of IoT networks, presenting a viable solution to manage the escalating demands of IoT deployments. Future endeavors will aim to extend the network scale and investigate alternative SDN controllers to substantiate the scalability of the conclusions.

Keywords

• sdn
• iot
• floodlight
• metrics
• security
• scalability