Securing resource-constrained IoMT devices with an ultra-lightweight cryptographic framework
Abstract
The rapid integration of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has transformed healthcare delivery, while also introducing significant challenges in device management, privacy protection, and resilience against cyber threats. Ensuring the secure transmission of sensitive information, such as medical photographs and electronic health records, between cloud-based services and IoMT devices is crucial. Traditional Internet of Things (IoT)-based healthcare frameworks frequently experience challenges related to inadequate encryption, insufficient authentication, and poor identity management, which can render systems susceptible to exploitation. This research introduces a streamlined cryptographic framework tailored for resource-constrained IoMT environments, addressing current limitations effectively. The solution employs ASCONv1.2, a lightweight authenticated encryption algorithm chosen by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and enhances its operational efficiency through the implementation of the Hypercube Optimal Search(HOS) Algorithm. Moreover, the Modified Wild Geese (MWG) algorithm enhances both local and global search capabilities, thereby optimizing key generation and resource utilization. The experimental evaluation indicates that the proposed approach results in a 16.859\% enhancement in reliability and a 15.36\% decrease in processing time when compared to traditional encryption schemes. Mean Squared Error (MSE), Bit Error Rate (BER), Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM), and correlation coefficient (CC) are utilized to thoroughly evaluate performance. This demonstrates that the framework can guarantee secure and effective IoMT data transmission. This work introduces a scalable and resource-efficient encryption paradigm, enhancing the security and reliability of future healthcare systems.