Cybersecurity Challenges of Blockchain and Smart Contracts Technologies in IIoT

This paper aims at identifying the main challenges associated with the adoption of blockchain and smart contract technologies as potential solutions for cybersecurity in an Industrial Internet of Things environment. Initially, an introduction to IIoT, blockchain and smart contracts is made, highlighting their core concepts as well as explaining their characteristics and properties. Subsequently, based on a literature review, the various benefits and challenges for their implementation are identified. The latter are presented through a hierarchical approach that first categorizes them in architecture and privacy related challenges, with each category being further divided into more specific challenges to emphasize the complex nature of the problem. Some typical use cases are also mentioned to showcase the feasibility of these technologies. Finally, a conceptual framework for IIoT cybersecurity is proposed in terms of future work directions.