• RUCHIKA DUNGARANI
• Dhruv Patel
• Nachiket Patel
• Shivam Pandey
• Aishwarya Rajput

Critical infrastructure networks, encompassing sectors such as energy, transportation, water, and telecommunications, are vital for the functioning of modern societies and economies. However, these networks face a myriad of security challenges, including cyber threats, physical vulnerabilities, and the risk of cascading failures due to their interconnected nature. Traditional centralized security measures have limitations in addressing these complex challenges, prompting the need for innovative solutions that leverage emerging technologies. This research explores the potential of blockchain technology in enhancing the security and resilience of critical infrastructure networks. Blockchain's decentralized, immutable, and transparent characteristics offer unique advantages in securing these vital systems. The proposed blockchain-based security framework introduces a distributed ledger maintained by a network of nodes representing various stakeholders within the critical infrastructure ecosystem. The framework incorporates key components such as decentralized access control and identity management, data integrity and provenance tracking, and automated threat detection and response mechanisms. Smart contracts are leveraged to automate security protocols, enforce access control policies, and trigger predefined incident response actions based on identified threats or anomalies. Through comprehensive simulations and testbed evaluations, the framework's effectiveness, scalability, and performance were assessed across various attack scenarios and threat models. The results demonstrated the framework's ability to accurately detect and mitigate a wide range of cyber threats, maintain data integrity, and facilitate secure information sharing among stakeholders. The decentralized nature of the blockchain network enhanced overall system resilience, eliminating single points of failure and enabling continued operations even in the presence of compromised or faulty nodes. The immutable audit trail provided by the blockchain facilitated forensic analysis, incident investigations, and regulatory compliance efforts. While challenges such as interoperability, regulatory compliance, and user acceptance were identified, the research paves the way for potential real-world deployments across various critical infrastructure sectors. Future research directions include advanced threat detection techniques, integration with emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and edge computing, and addressing privacy and data protection concerns through advanced cryptographic techniques. By leveraging the unique properties of blockchain technology, the proposed security framework offers a promising solution for securing critical infrastructure networks, enhancing their resilience against evolving cyber threats, and mitigating the risks of cascading failures in an increasingly interconnected world.

Centralized security measures Emerging technologies Blockchain technology Automated threat detection Response mechanisms Smart contracts

"Immutable Guardians: Blockchain's Unwavering Protection for Critical Networks", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 6, page no.a365-a378, June-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2406045.pdf

"Immutable Guardians: Blockchain's Unwavering Protection for Critical Networks", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 6, page no. ppa365-a378, June-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2406045.pdf