Protocols for Secure Internet of Things

Internet of Things has become a buzzword. It refers to networking of simplest mundane objects not just for human to machine or human to human interactions but for independent thing to thing interaction as well. Such interconnected or smart environment can do wonders but at the same time poses numerous threats to human lives. The ordinary and less powerful objects from day to day life are holding sensitive and private data from humans and trying to transport that through the insecure world of Internet. This new phase of Internet or Internet of Things (IoT) is yet in its infancy and does not have a security support mechanism of its own. The Internet and World Wide Web deal with interconnection of powerful devices like computers or smart phones and are well supported by standard Internet protocols ensuring optimum security and protection. The lightweight versions of the existing Internet protocols are backing the operations of IoT to a large extent but the security needs are not met completely as of yet. Many research organizations and individual researchers are working to make existing protocols and infrastructure applicable in IoT. This paper highlights the threats posed by uncontrolled proliferation of Internet of things and discusses major protocols that have been or that are being designed to overcome the security issues raised by Internet of things.