Enhancing physical security in IIoMT environments

The Industrial Internet of Medical Things (IIoMT) transforms healthcare through interconnected
devices enabling real-time monitoring, diagnostics, and treatment. However, these devices often
lack robust physical security, making them vulnerable to tampering, theft, and unauthorized
access. This paper introduces SecureGuard-IIoMT, an innovative adaptive physical security
framework designed to mitigate such vulnerabilities across diverse deployment environments.
SecureGuard-IIoMT comprises three integrated components enhancing device security. The first,
Adaptive Sensor-Based Intrusion Detection (ASID), utilizes vibration, proximity, and pressure
sensors combined with lightweight machine learning models to detect unauthorized physical
interactions in real-time. ASID maintains detection accuracy across varied conditions by
dynamically adjusting its thresholds. The second component, Dynamic Tamper Evident Enclosure
(DTE), is a self-healing smart enclosure equipped with a tamper detection circuit. Upon tampering
detection, DTE triggers alerts, initiates self-healing to ensure continuous device operation, and
logs detailed incident reports for further analysis. The third component, Blockchain-Powered
Access Control System (BPACS), leverages blockchain technology to maintain decentralized,
secure, and immutable access logs. Only authorized physical access requests are approved and
recorded, preventing unauthorized interactions. Extensive simulations and real-world tests
demonstrate that SecureGuard-IIoMT achieves an 85 % reduction in tampering risks and a 92 %
decrease in unauthorized access attempts. Its lightweight, modular design ensures compatibility
with various IIoMT devices without compromising performance or cost-effectiveness. SecureGuard-
IIoMT effectively bridges critical security gaps in IIoMT device hardening, providing
scalable solutions essential for securing healthcare infrastructures. Future work will focus on
integrating quantum-resistant encryption into BPACS and employing advanced tamper-evident
materials for enhanced security. Future work will focus on integrating quantum-resistant
encryption into BPACS and employing advanced tamper-evident materials for enhanced security.
The key contributions of this study include the design of an adaptive multi-sensor intrusion
detection module (ASID), a tamper-evident self-healing enclosure (DTE), and a decentralized
blockchain-based access control system (BPACS). Collectively, these components achieve an 85 %
reduction in tampering risks and a 92 % decrease in unauthorized access attempts while maintaining
lightweight and scalable deployment.