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IoT, Blockchain, and Security: Tamper-proofing Devices
Blockchain has been promoted as a possible solution to security of IoT devices. Security of IoT devices has been notoriously bad. It is difficult to remotely oversee devices to know if they have been compromised by hackers. Blockchain can be used to track and prevent device data tampering.
Hugh Simpson, Global Solutions Lead at Ciklum, said that “Blockchain improves the audit trail of assets. Take a very simple use case of a pump on a truck in a mine — by decentralizing the asset and processing, you’re not relying on an centralized cloud-based solution for asset information and authorized users can see the audit trail of when that pump is maintained, how it’s been used, what it’s been used for. All of that data can better inform your decision making process.”
Despite the benefits of deploying a blockchain security mechanism for IoT, most IoT devices (91%) aren’t using it.
Jason Hart, CTO at Gemalto, said that “given the increase in the number of IoT-enabled devices, it’s extremely worrying to see that businesses still can’t detect if they have been breached. With no consistent regulation guiding the industry, it’s no surprise the threats – and, in turn, vulnerability of businesses – are increasing. This will only continue unless governments step in now to help industry avoid losing control.”
Why have IoT device makers been slow to address IoT security with blockchain? A few of the reasons include:
- Lack of Trust. Blockchain is a relatively new technology without a long history of data points that can back up its value.
- Implementation skill. Device makers need to carefully consider all the parameters that need to be monitored and built into the blockchain system and then that data needs to be built into the blockchain solution. Those parameters can include location and environmental information.
- Processing power. Blockchain requires some heavy lifting when it comes to the processing needed to enable it. As the number of IoT devices proliferate, the processing power of blockchain networks will need to keep pace.
