Application Layer Security: MQTT Perspective with TLS Implementation and Analysis
Shatha Alharbi, David Bell, Wasan Shaker Awad · 2025
The Internet of Things (IoT) has become ingrained in our daily lives, transforming the way we interact with technology. From smart homes to wearable devices, IoT enhances convenience and connectivity. However, this widespread adoption raises security concerns. Recent years have witnessed a surge in cyberattacks exploiting vulnerabilities in IoT devices. Security lapses in device development and the sheer volume of interconnected devices contribute to the challenges. Data breaches and privacy infringements also loom large, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to technological advancement and robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard personal information and ensure the positive impact of IoT on daily life. In this study, we reviewed IoT encryption algorithms with focus on the integration between the IoT application layer and some encryption algorithms with focus on the MQTT protocol. Additionally, we conducted a comparative performance analysis of MQTT with and without TLS, highlighting the impact of encryption on IoT communication in terms of different performance metrics like CPU cycles, memory consumption, latency and throughput.