Private Proof of Authority Blockchain for ICS Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial Control Systems (ICS) face significant information security challenges, including Man-in-the-middle attacks, due to lack of encryption and mutual authentication, which can lead to compromised security postures and potential dangerous malfunctions, especially given their reliance on legacy hardware and protocols.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of Blockchain Based Network Security (BBNS) using a proof-of-authority blockchain to secure network communications by parsing and hashing data packets with an index identifier, combining hashes, and comparing them with distributed ledger hashes to provide real-time network security indications, thereby preventing tampering and ensuring data integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If legacy hardware and protocols are used in ICS, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is maintained, but security reliability deteriorates due to lack of encryption and authentication
Solution Approach 1:
A blockchain intermediary layer is introduced between ICS devices and the control system. The blockchain network acts as a mediator that provides cryptographic authentication and data integrity verification without requiring modifications to legacy ICS hardware or protocols. Smart contracts automatically verify device identities and transaction authenticity, enhancing security while maintaining simplicity of existing devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The security architecture is segmented into separate layers: the legacy ICS layer remains unchanged for ease of operation, while a new blockchain layer handles security functions. This segmentation allows legacy devices to continue operating without modification while the blockchain layer provides enhanced security through distributed consensus and cryptographic verification.
2Reliability
If public blockchain consensus models (PoW, PoS) are implemented, then security reliability is improved through trustless consensus, but energy consumption and computational requirements increase dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The consensus mechanism parameters are changed from resource-intensive PoW/PoS models to a PoA model suitable for private ICS blockchains. In PoA, designated authority nodes validate transactions based on their identity and reputation rather than computational power or stake, dramatically reducing energy consumption while maintaining consensus reliability through cryptographic verification and distributed agreement protocols.
3Reliability
If data packets are parsed, hashed, and verified through blockchain consensus, then data integrity is improved and tampering is prevented, but processing time and computational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
Data packets are hashed and signed with digital signatures before transmission. The blockchain network pre-validates transaction formats and structures through smart contract templates. This preliminary action allows receiving nodes to quickly verify integrity using pre-computed hash values and stored public keys, reducing real-time processing time while maintaining strong data integrity guarantees.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of transmitting and verifying entire data packets through full blockchain consensus, only critical integrity information (hashes, signatures, nonces) is copied and verified. The full data packets can be retrieved on-demand from authorized sources, reducing verification time while maintaining integrity through cryptographic proof.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of securing a network including parsing a first data packet into at least one portion using a first device, such that the at least one portion includes a portion designated as an index identifier. The method includes hashing the at least one portion of the first data packet using the first device and the index identifier, and hashing, using the first device and the index identifier, at least one portion of a second data packet. The method includes combining, using the first device and the index identifier, the hashed portions of the first data packet and the second data packet, and hashing, using the first device and the index identifier, at least one portion of the combined hashed portions of the first data packet and the second data packet into a first combined data packet hash. The method can provide an indication of network security.