Robust and Scalable LPWAN Architecture with Integrated Security for Industrial IoT Applications

Abstract

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is revolutionizing the means of critical infrastructure through real-time monitoring, automation and making smart decisions. The Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWANs) like LoRaWAN, Sigfox, and NB-IoT are highly essential in enabling low energy, long-range two-way communication in IIoT-related use cases. Nevertheless, current implementations of LPWAN usually have serious gaps related to scalability, robustness, and security applied in an industrial world. In this study, a powerful and scalable framework of LPWAN is suggested combined with lightweight, multiple-layered security solutions depending on the specific requirements of IIoT communication. The framework provides hierarchical and intelligent adaptive network topography, dynamic clustering and intelligent gateway coordination. Its security is enforced by using symmetric encryption, key exchange on Elliptic curve and Device authentication using HMAC. Scalability and resilience are achieved by the architecture by incorporating adaptive channel allocation, fault-tolerant routing, and anomaly detection with edge intelligence in real-time. NS-3 simulation-based assessment with realistic industrial traffic patterns shows that a packet delivery ratio is more than 95 percent, latency reduces by up to 40 percent in crowded settings, and cryptographic overheads are less than 5 percent. The offered solution enhances the resistance to seemingly typical IIoT attacks (jamming, replay, node impersonation, etc.) considerably without affecting energy and latency consumption. The resultants substantiate the architecture in its ability to support secure and scalability of IIoTs and further research will integrate the architecture with real-life applicative industrial testbeds and blockchain efficient trust mechanisms.