A Blockchain-Based Trusted Edge Platform in Edge Computing Environment

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Cybersecurity
• Distributed Systems

Background:

• Edge computing, evolving from IoT and cloud technologies, offers decentralized infrastructure near users, addressing latency and bandwidth challenges.
• Increasing data generation in IoT raises significant security and privacy concerns within edge computing environments.
• Existing edge computing and blockchain integrations often lack scalability, portability, and robust heterogeneous data processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a trusted edge platform for integrating edge computing frameworks and blockchain networks to establish a secure edge environment.
• To enhance data privacy for edge computing clients through a novel platform design.
• To improve the scalability, portability, and business capabilities of edge platforms.

Main Methods:

• Developed a lightweight, microservice-based trusted edge platform.
• Integrated the Edgex Foundry framework to enhance platform portability and business capabilities.
• Implemented security authentication microservices utilizing the Hyperledger Fabric blockchain for a reliable security mechanism.

Main Results:

• The proposed platform effectively integrates edge computing and blockchain for a secure edge environment.
• Experimental deployment on diverse hardware demonstrated the platform's usability and availability.
• Testing of key workflows confirmed the platform meets real-world availability requirements.

Conclusions:

• The trusted edge platform offers a viable solution for securing edge computing environments in IoT.
• The microservice architecture and Edgex Foundry integration enhance the platform's efficiency, portability, and scalability.
• The use of Hyperledger Fabric provides a robust security foundation for edge data privacy and integrity.