Optimized Authentication Protocol for IoT: Enhancing Security with ECC-LBAS Hybrid Approach

Abstract

The rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) necessitates the development of authentication protocols that address security concerns while accommodating the resource constraints of IoT devices. This study introduces a hybrid authentication protocol combining Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) with the Lightweight Block Authentication System (LBAS). The protocol was evaluated in three scenarios using the Contiki OS simulation framework: a baseline ECC implementation, an enhanced security configuration, and the hybrid ECC-LBAS approach. Results highlight the hybrid protocol’s ability to achieve a high authentication success rate of 99.1%, a low packet loss rate of 0.4%, and moderate energy consumption of 130 mJ. These metrics underscore the protocol’s efficiency in balancing security and resource utilization. Furthermore, the integration of LBAS complements ECC by reducing computational complexity and latency, making the protocol well-suited for diverse IoT applications such as healthcare, industrial automation, and smart cities. The findings provide a scalable and adaptable framework for secure IoT deployments, addressing critical challenges in authentication reliability, latency, and energy efficiency. Future research will focus on testing the protocol in real-world IoT environments to validate its practical applicability and identify potential enhancements for ultra-sensitive data applications. This study contributes to the advancement of IoT security by proposing an optimized solution that meets the dual demands of security and resource efficiency.