The compromise between Security and Usability in the Internet of Things

In this paper, a new information architecture for real-time data exchange between intelligent products and back-end systems is presented. As intelligent products that are capable of recording data about their surroundings become part of daily life, privacy protection must be addressed. Use-cases detailing different security requirements are presented, and issues related to the secure transfer of data are discussed on a technical level. Guidelines are presented for designing information systems involving intelligent products so that the consumer’s right to privacy is taken into account. The applicability of state-of-the art security technologies for protecting the confidentiality of transactions in the information architecture is demonstrated through concrete demonstrator scenarios involving intelligent products and back-end systems.