A Framework for Secure Autonomic IoT Device Management in Constrained Networks

The rapid expansion of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in constrained environments poses significant challenges for secure onboarding and efficient communication over IP-based networks. Traditional onboarding approaches are often not scalable, require manual intervention, and do not meet the resource constraints of IoT devices. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a framework that introduces the Static Context Header Compression Zero (SCHC Zero) mechanism and combines it with Bootstrapping Remote Secure Key Infrastructure (BRSKI) to securely and autonomously onboard and manage constrained IoT devices in IP-based networks. Using LoRaWAN as a case study, we demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed solution. Using SCHC Zero, non-native-IP-constrained nodes establish a secure channel for autonomic onboarding to the IP network and a management plane that allows for future configuration changes. Such a solution will improve scalability while maintaining security in constrained IoT networks, laying a robust foundation for future large-scale IoT deployments.