A Security Framework for IoT Authentication and Authorization Based on Blockchain Technology

The decentralized and distributed nature of the Blockchain technology makes it a suitable solution to improve the device-to-device communication security challenges. This work explores the possible application of blockchain technology to address the IoT security problems under the 5G cellular system. We propose a multi-layer security network model for IoT network based on blockchain technology. The proposed model addresses the problems associated with the actual deployment of the blockchain technology by dividing the IoT network into a multi-layer decentralized system. In the proposed model, we divide the network into K-unknown clusters using Evolutionary Computation algorithms which are Genetic Algorithms (GAs) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). A local authentication mechanism is chosen for authentication and authorization purpose within each cluster handed by each Cluster Head (CH). The high security and credibility assurance of the blockchain technology provides an authentication mechanism for CHs communication with each other and Base Stations (BS) through a local blockchain implementation without a central authority. We also propose a global blockchain implementation for BSs communications. Finally, our proposal implements an open source blockchain platform Hyperledger Fabric to verify the proposed system.