A new hierarchical key management scheme for secure clustering in wireless sensor networks

Abstract

In Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), clustering is the suitable topology to save the energy of sensor nodes. In this paper, we provide a secured cluster formation by proposing a new symmetric key management scheme for hierarchical WSNs. The new scheme is called EAHKM (Energy Aware Hierarchical Key Management in WSNs). EAHKM needs the pre-distribution of only three keys in each sensor node before deployment, and it ensures a secure cluster formation after deployment. EAHKM assures the establishment of a pairwise key between each sensor node and its cluster head, thus the establishment of a broadcast key in each cluster in the network. Simulation results show that EAHKM provides an energy-efficient, flexible and scalable solution to the key management problem in hierarchical WSNs, and it presents a good resilience to node compromising attacks than other hierarchical key management schemes.