An Outline of Data Aggregation Security in Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks.

Sabrina Boubiche,Azzedine Bilami,Djallel Eddine Boubiche,Homero Toral-Cruz

doi:10.3390/s16040525

Abstract

Data aggregation processes aim to reduce the amount of exchanged data in wireless sensor networks and consequently minimize the packet overhead and optimize energy efficiency. Securing the data aggregation process is a real challenge since the aggregation nodes must access the relayed data to apply the aggregation functions. The data aggregation security problem has been widely addressed in classical homogeneous wireless sensor networks, however, most of the proposed security protocols cannot guarantee a high level of security since the sensor node resources are limited. Heterogeneous wireless sensor networks have recently emerged as a new wireless sensor network category which expands the sensor nodes’ resources and capabilities. These new kinds of WSNs have opened new research opportunities where security represents a most attractive area. Indeed, robust and high security level algorithms can be used to secure the data aggregation at the heterogeneous aggregation nodes which is impossible in classical homogeneous WSNs. Contrary to the homogeneous sensor networks, the data aggregation security problem is still not sufficiently covered and the proposed data aggregation security protocols are numberless. To address this recent research area, this paper describes the data aggregation security problem in heterogeneous wireless sensor networks and surveys a few proposed security protocols. A classification and evaluation of the existing protocols is also introduced based on the adopted data aggregation security approach.

Highlights

Data aggregation is an important basic concept in wireless sensor networks (WSNs), which has been proposed to optimize the data collection process and the sensor nodes’ energy reserves. and due to the network density, the data collection process suffers from redundancy and data interrelation which may drain the sensor node batteries and affect the network performance
We have addressed the problem of data aggregation security in heterogeneous wireless sensor networks, pointing out the needs, the constraints and various defense mechanisms used to solve the security problems
Introducing high data aggregation security algorithms which are cannot be used by classic nodes, and which offer the possibility of using many aggregation functions, is beneficial

Summary

Introduction

Data aggregation is an important basic concept in wireless sensor networks (WSNs), which has been proposed to optimize the data collection process and the sensor nodes’ energy reserves. and due to the network density, the data collection process suffers from redundancy and data interrelation which may drain the sensor node batteries and affect the network performance (overhead, transmission bandwidth, latency . . . ). ). it is necessary to use methods for merging data at the intermediate nodes in order to reduce the number of packets transmitted to the base station, allowing energy and bandwidth savings. It is necessary to use methods for merging data at the intermediate nodes in order to reduce the number of packets transmitted to the base station, allowing energy and bandwidth savings This can be accomplished through a data aggregation mechanism. Many security solutions have been proposed to secure the data aggregation process. These solutions are mainly proposed for homogeneous WSNs where nodes are identical in capacity, energy consumption and hardware complexity. The proposed solutions aim to guarantee secure data aggregation and an authenticated broadcast based on a variety of security mechanisms like symmetric encryption [1]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion