Cybersecurity Risk Management Framework for Blockchain Identity Management Systems in Health IoT

Abstract

Blockchain (BC) has recently paved the way for developing Decentralized Identity Management (IdM) systems for different information systems. Researchers widely use it to develop decentralized IdM systems for the Health Internet of Things (HIoT). HIoT is considered a vulnerable system that produces and processes sensitive data. BC-based IdM systems have the potential to be more secure and privacy-aware than centralized IdM systems. However, many studies have shown potential security risks to using BC. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) conducted by the authors on BC-based IdM systems in HIoT systems showed a lack of comprehensive security and risk management frameworks for BC-based IdM systems in HIoT. Conducting a further SLR focusing on risk management and supplemented by Grey Literature (GL), in this paper, a security taxonomy, security framework, and cybersecurity risk management framework for the HIoT BC-IdM systems are identified and proposed. The cybersecurity risk management framework will significantly assist developers, researchers, and organizations in developing a secure BC-based IdM to ensure HIoT users’ data privacy and security.

Challenges and Opportunities for Conducting Dynamic Risk Assessments in Medical IoT

“…Working with IoT technologies in healthcare, there are a myriad of similar notions and definitions that we differentiate next. For instance, we have encountered references to the Health Internet of Things (HIoT) [49], the Internet of Health Things (IoHT) [50,51], the IoT-Health [52], the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) [53][54][55], and the Medical Internet of Things (MIoT) [1,2,56]. In this work, we shall refer to the latter (MIoT) as a base definition as we think it captures the fundamental differences between general IoT systems versus those applied to medical/healthcare contexts with its more specific subtleties.…”

Decentralized Identity Verification System for Data Access to Prevent Data Exfiltration Ransomware

“…The breadth of research on blockchain technology, while extensive, consistently encounters a shared challenge in the realm of practical application, especially regarding scalability and the assimilation with pre-existing systems [36], [37]. The studies often indicate a need for more subtle approaches to integrate blockchain effectively, without disrupting current operational workflows [53], [54]. This integration is particularly challenging in sectors with legacy systems, where the transition to blockchain-based solutions demands meticulous planning and execution [47], [48].…”

“…Those studies, while innovative, consistently reveal a research gap in finding an equilibrium between robust security measures and the preservation of user privacy and convenience [54], [53]. Moreover, these studies highlight the necessity to address the continually evolving and increasingly sophisticated threats in identity fraud [56], [57].…”

“…Additionally, blockchain itself brings its own complexities for enterprise integration, including factors such as platform selection, solution architecture, protocol choices, and application integration [30], [31]. On the business side, the costs of migrating to blockchain-including software, hardware, training, and the effort necessary for integrating systems-could be substantial for resource-constrained organizations [32], [54], [35]. This highlights budgetary considerations and return on investment analysis when planning such a shift [31].…”

“…Stakeholders accustomed to legacy identity systems may require extensive retraining, leadership buy-in would be essential for successful execution, and general resistance to change may need to be actively managed [48], [49]. A phased, incremental rollout focusing on one application area at a time may help mitigate some of these challenges [45], [54]. Overall, while the decentralized system offers noteworthy security advantages, the migration process demands holistic analysis of integration complexity spanning technical, business, and human factors within an organization [32], [44].…”