# A Secure Dual-MCU Architecture for Robust Communication of IIoT Devices

## TL;DR

This paper proposes a dual-MCU architecture to enhance the security and robustness of IIoT devices, specifically PLCs, addressing vulnerabilities in network communication within industrial control systems.

## Contribution

It introduces a novel dual-MCU setup for secure IIoT device communication and provides a proof of concept with benchmarking against standard PLCs.

## Key findings

- Improved resilience against cyber-attacks in IIoT communication
- Enhanced control stability under network load
- Demonstrated effectiveness through benchmark comparisons

## Abstract

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has already become a part of our everyday life be it water supply, smart grid, or production, IIoT is everywhere. For example, factory operators want to know the current state of the production line. These new demands for data acquisition in modern plants require industrial components to be able to communicate. Nowadays, network communication in Industrial Control Systems (ICSs) is often implemented via an IP-based protocol. This intercommunication also brings a larger attack surface for hackers. If an IIoT device is influenced by attackers, the physical process could be affected. For example, a high network load could cause a high Central Processing Unit (CPU) load and influence the reaction time on the physical control side. In this paper, we introduce a dual Microcontroller Unit (MCU) setup to ensure a resilient controlling for IIoT devices like Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). We introduce a possible solution for the demand of secure architectures in the IIoT. Moreover, we provide a Proof of Concept (PoC) implementation with a benchmark and a comparison with a standard PLC.