Blockchain-Based Security Framework for a Critical Industry 4.0 Cyber-Physical System

There has been intense concern for security alternatives because of the recent rise of cyber attacks, mainly targeting critical systems such as industry, medical, and energy ecosystems. Although the latest industry infrastructures largely depend on AI-driven maintenance, prediction based on corrupted data undoubtedly results in loss of life and capital. Admittedly, an inadequate data protection mechanism can readily challenge the security and reliability of the network. The shortcomings of the conventional cloud or trusted-certificate-driven techniques have motivated us to exhibit a unique blockchain-based framework for a secure and efficient Industry 4.0 system. The demonstrated framework obviates the long-established certificate authority after enhancing the consortium blockchain that reduces the data processing delay and increases cost-effective throughput. Nonetheless, the distributed Industry 4.0 security model entails cooperative trust rather than depending on a single party, which in essence indulges the costs and threat of the single point of failure. Therefore, the multi-signature technique of the proposed framework accomplishes multi-party authentication, which confirms its applicability for a real-time and collaborative cyber-physical system.

Automated summary

Amidst the recent surge in cyber attacks targeting critical systems such as industry, medical, and energy ecosystems, a unique blockchain-based framework has been introduced to address the shortcomings of traditional cloud or trusted-certificate-driven techniques, enhancing security and efficiency for Industry 4.0 systems. The demonstrated framework eliminates the longstanding certificate authority, reduces data processing delay, and increases cost-effective throughput, while promoting cooperative trust and multi-party authentication in the distributed Industry 4.0 security model.