Mitigating Cybersecurity Risks in IoT: A Layered Approach to Threat Detection and Prevention
Deepshikha Aggarwal, Archana B. Saxena, Deepti Sharma · 2025
As the Internet of Things (IoT) grows, its complex architecture across perception, network, and application layers has introduced substantial cybersecurity risks. This paper proposes a layered approach to IoT security, examining threats at each layer and detailing customized countermeasures for robust threat detection and prevention. By adopting this structured approach, IoT systems can achieve enhanced resilience and minimize vulnerabilities across different operational domains. The rapid proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices across diverse sectors has introduced unique cybersecurity challenges, as these devices are often resource-constrained and vulnerable to multi-layered cyber threats. This study proposes a layered security framework designed to mitigate IoT-specific threats across the perception, network, and application layers, addressing vulnerabilities through tailored threat detection and prevention strategies. The research methodology is purely theoretical, involving extensive literature analysis and model synthesis to develop a modular framework capable of securing IoT systems with minimal resource impact. Key components include hardware-based security and lightweight encryption at the perception layer, secure communication protocols and intrusion detection systems (IDS) at the network layer, and advanced access controls and data privacy measures at the application layer. The framework's effectiveness is theoretically validated using case studies of known IoT attacks, such as the Mirai botnet and Stuxnet, demonstrating its potential to reduce risks from various cyber threats. This layered approach provides a flexible, adaptable, and efficient solution for IoT security, offering insights into future empirical research and practical applications for enhanced cybersecurity in IoT ecosystems.