Edge Computing Security for IoT : A Systematic Literature Review

Sammanfattning: This study conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) to explore the security threats, their mitigation strategies, and the roles of blockchain and 5G technologies in enhancing the security of IoT devices in edge computing environments. Utilizing digital libraries as resources, the review examines three research questions that delve into the common security threats for IoT devices in edge computing, the unique security issues for sensors, gateways, and actuators, and the advantages of integrating blockchain and 5G technologies into edge computing security for IoT systems. A total of 1667 articles in four digital libraries was identified through three distinct search strings aligned with the research questions where a selected sample comprising 82 primary articles was analyzed. The results reveal a wide variety of security threats, including Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) and Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks, Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks, and malware injections, among others, with mitigation strategies spanning intrusion detection systems (IDS), firewalls, and cryptographic methods. Furthermore, it was found that the security issues unique to sensors, gateways, and actuators are mostly distinct, necessitating tailored countermeasures. The research also highlights the prospective advantages of integrating blockchain and 5G technologies into edge computing for IoT systems, emphasizing potential improvements in security, privacy, and trust. While analyzing the articles for the third research question it became evident that the advantages of implementing these technologies significantly outweigh the few disadvantages encountered. The conclusion of the study highlights the importance of a solid understanding of these security threats, mitigation strategies, and the advantages of integrating blockchain or 5G in edge computing for IoT.