Blockchain for IoT access control: Recent trends and future research directions

With the rapid development of wireless sensor networks, smart devices, and traditional information and communication technologies, there is tremendous growth in the use of Internet of Things (IoT) applications and services in our everyday life. IoT systems deal with high volumes of data. This data can be particularly sensitive, as it may include health, financial, location, and other personal information. Therefore, fine-grained security management in IoT demands effective access control. Several proposals discuss access control for the IoT. However, a limited focus is given to the emerging blockchain-based solutions for IoT access control. In this paper, we review the recent trends and critical needs for blockchain-based solutions for IoT access control. We identify several important aspects of blockchain, including decentralised control, secure storage and sharing information in a trustless manner for IoT access control, including their benefits and limitations. Finally, we note some future research directions on converging blockchain in IoT access control efficiently and effectively.