Secure cluster based routing scheme (SCBRS) for wireless sensor networks

Abstract

Wireless sensor network consists of micro electromechanical sensor nodes which are operated by battery power. Sensor network has emerged as an important supplement to the modern wireless communication systems due to its wide range of applications. The modern researchers are facing the various issues concerning sensor networks more graciously. However, offering security to an energy constrained network of sensor nodes is still a challenge. The proposed scheme named as Secure Cluster Based Routing Scheme (SCBRS) for Wireless Sensor Networks adopts a hierarchical network model coupled with low weight security mechanisms in order to conserve energy as well as offer security to the network. Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) based public key cryptography, Elliptic-Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) key exchange scheme, nested hash based message authentication codes (HMAC) and RC5 symmetric cypher are the light-weight security methods used by the proposed scheme. Simulation results prove that SCBRS performs better than Tree Based Protocol for Key Management in Wireless Sensor Networks in terms of energy efficiency and security. SCBRS also performs better than Secure Hierarchical Routing Protocol (SHRP) in fields where security is the most important issue.