Hierarchical Blockchain Framework for Node Authentication in IoT Networks: A Comprehensive Analysis

Most of these huge networks of tiny devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) need a strong security system that can grow and adapt to the devices' limited resources. Internet of Things security relies heavily on node authentication. The existing authentication systems have a single point of failure since they rely on a central trusted party for authentication. One decentralised option for node authentication is blockchain, which is a network of interconnected digital nodes that uses decentralised authentication. Most blockchain uses in the Internet of Things (IoT) are now connected to older blockchain networks by devices with more processing power. This makes them less adaptable to IoT networks and adds the problem of a single point of failure. This study presents a decentralised authentication system that relies on blockchain technology. It accomplishes this by grouping Internet of Things (IoT) devices into clusters according to their computing power, energy reserve, and geographic position. Each cluster's devices are verified via a hierarchical network of linked blockchains. We implemented a consensus mechanism to lessen the computational burden by checking the device and cluster's identity-based encryption key signature. Simulations of the suggested topology have demonstrated that IoT devices' CPU and memory loads are reduced. A lot of testing on networks made up of Docker containers and Raspberry Pi devices has shown that the suggested blockchain design and consensus method greatly lower the need for computing power.