Blockchain for Decentralized Authentication in IoT Networks Using Digital Certificates

Abstract

With the rapid growth of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, securing their communication and authentication has become a critical challenge. Traditional authentication methods struggle in heterogeneous IoT systems due to incompatibility with diverse devices, reliance on centralized models, costly cryptographic operations, and issues with scalability, trust, and single points of failure. To address these challenges, this paper presents a decentralized authentication framework for IoT nodes based on blockchain technology and digital certificates. In this approach, each IoT device is equipped with a digital certificate that authenticates its identity, while the blockchain is used to securely validate these certificates in a decentralized manner. A lightweight blockchain architecture employing a Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism is proposed to validate nodes’ certificates. The consensus is conducted on these certificates, with blocks created and appended to the chain, reducing the computational and storage overhead of traditional blockchains. By leveraging blockchain’s immutability and transparency, the system enhances IoT node authentication security and integrity while minimizing resource consumption and delays. Designed for heterogeneous IoT systems, the architecture ensures seamless communication, security, scalability, and efficiency.