Application of data diodes in Internet of Things security

Abstract

The rapid growth of the ubiquitous connectivity of Internet of Things (IoT) devices causes major security challenges for these cyber connected things. Due to the lack of a standardised and universally accepted IoT implementation framework, conventional information technology (IT) security measures are applied to the heterogeneous stack of IoT technologies. However, IT security measures cannot always be directly applied to IoT security requirements. Thus, the transmission of data through the IoT network layer becomes inevitably vulnerable to attack. This paper proposes the application of data diodes to enhance the data security of the heterogeneous stack of IoT technologies. The paper also proposes the possibility of bringing IoT security to the edge (devices) by embedding miniature data diodes within IoT devices. Data diodes are hardware-based security measures that enforce only one way data flow. Thus, the devices have no physical reverse channels for incoming data from the outer network (Internet) by which most cyberattacks are carried out.