The number of connected devices is increasing day by day. The data collection and transmission from these devices require a better approach to processing and analysis. For this reason, edge computing is the best choice for users because it is bringing these devices closer to the data sources. To execute these devices, we don’t require central locations. The edge competing is executing these devices from the local servers and data centres. In some devices, they have enabled data execution in them. The main idea behind edge computing is to minimize data transmission time. Now, the problem is that we are observing some attacks of the hackers. These attacks of hackers are creating some security risks. Here, we will discuss the edge computing security risks and methods to overcome these security risks.
Risk 1: Malicious Software or Hardware Injections:
The edge networks are using various hardware and software-based tools to circulate the data. Cyber attackers are trying to corrupt or alter data circulation. They try to corrupt and alter the data circulation at the manipulation of the edge nodes. Cyber attackers can also affect the servers and devices at the location of the edge. For this reason, they inject unauthorized software and hardware components.
These components can last some impacts on the efficiency of the edge servers and devices. As a result, these components start the hacking process on the behalf of the attackers. IEEE has highlighted such practice of the attackers. According to them, the attackers can add a malicious node into the edge network. After adding this node, they provide such ID number that is identical to the existing node. As a result, hackers can easily steal the data within the network.
How to Overcome This Security Risk?
To deal with the malicious software or hardware injections, the researchers of IEEE have proposed countermeasures. First of all, you can overcome this security risk with the help of side-channel signal analyses. It is the best way to detect the hardware Trojans. By using this method, you can detect the unusual system behaviours at the edge nodes. Secondly, you can also overcome this problem by using the Trojan activation method. This kind of technique is also helpful for the detection of malicious attacks. At last, you can also overcome this security risk by using the technique of circuit modification or circuit replacement.
Risk 2: Physical Tampering and Attacks:
This kind of security risk in edge computing is relevant to its architecture. That is the reason due to which networks have to face this problem based on their location and level of physical protection. To provide edge computing services, the service providers have to use computational resources at a wider scale. As a result, the attackers can get more surface area to attack the edge computing networks. The attackers can easily extract valuable and sensitive information. They can also tamper these computing networks with node circuits.
How to Overcome This Security Risk?
If you want to save your edge computing network from the physical tampering and attacks, you will have also to use the previous methods. You can use these methods to save your edge computing network from the harmful effects of the attackers. The businesses and organizations should try to follow some further security measures. It means that they should try to secure the physical security of the edge nodes. They can also enhance the security of their organizations and businesses by implementing the locking mechanisms. They can also use some other physical safeguards in the field.
Risk 3: Routing Information Attacks:
The edge computing service providers should also be aware of the routing information attacks. These kinds of attacks occur at the communication level of an edge network. By using these kinds of attacks, the attackers try to interfere with the data transfer method. After interfering the data transfer method, they can affect the latency and paths of the data. The researchers of IEEE have highlighted four different types of routing information attacks. In the routing information attacks, there come black holes, hello flood, wormholes and grey holes.
How to Overcome This Security Risk?
The researchers of a dissertation help firm have provided a countermeasure against this kind of security risk. They can easily overcome this security risk by implementing IDS and by establishing reliable routing protocols. These routing protocols can monitor the malicious traffic and they can also detect the policy violations. If they will use reliable routing protocols, they can also share trusted information without any problem. According to these researchers, when they will use the high-quality IDS (Intrusion Detection System), they can save their system from the routing information attacks. The most important routing information attacks that IDS can overcome are the black holes.
Risk 4: DDoS Attacks:
The DDoS attack is also an essential security risk that these service providers should be aware of. IEEE researchers have highlighted three different kinds of DDoS attacks. First is the outage attack. This kind of attack will cause the edge computing network to stop working. The second kind of DDoS attacks is sleep deprivation. By using this kind of attack, the attackers try to overwhelm the nodes with legitimate requests. The third kind of DDoS attacks is the barrage attack. To implement this kind of attack, the attackers introduce the energy-demanding applications or programs. These energy-demanding programs or applications can damage the battery life.
How to Overcome This Security Risk?
IEEE researchers have also proposed countermeasure to overcome this kind of security risk. According to them, edge computing service providers should implement policy-based mechanisms. Policy-based mechanisms mean that there are standard rules within the network. They should make sure that these kinds of rules should not be broken. With the help of these rules, they can also control the behaviour of the devices in the network. Therefore, edge network providers should monitor these networks. If they observe these kinds of attacks, they should prepare a predefined security policy. After preparing this security policy, if they detect unusual activities, they have to take immediate actions.
