Pic credit: Pexels|Wolfgang Weiser
By Surya Narayana Mallik, Software Developer, Shreyas Webmedia Solutions
May 3, 2025: Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWANs) like LoRaWAN and NB-IoT are foundational to scalable IoT applications, offering long-range, low-bandwidth communication for energy-constrained devices. These networks are used in diverse sectors such as utilities, agriculture, logistics, and smart cities.
However, LPWAN’s inherent limitations—such as minimal device resources and high device volume—present significant challenges to securing device identities and communications. Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) provides an ideal solution by offering cloud-based, scalable, and policy-driven identity management for LPWAN environments.
1. How to Secure LPWAN Devices with Identity Management
Securing LPWAN devices involves:
a. Unique Device Identity
Each device must have a cryptographically unique identity using keys, certificates, or TPMs. IDaaS ensures secure provisioning and lifecycle management of these credentials.
b. Mutual Authentication
Devices and servers should mutually authenticate using lightweight protocols like DTLS, EDHOC, or pre-shared tokens supported by IDaaS platforms.
c. Policy-Based Authorization
Authorization decisions should be made dynamically based on device role, network context, or geolocation—facilitated by centralized IDaaS policies.
d. Secure Credential Storage
Credentials stored in hardware (e.g., secure elements or TPMs) or encrypted storage protect devices from physical tampering.
e. Periodic Key Rotation
IDaaS automates secure, over-the-air (OTA) credential rotation to reduce long-term risk from compromised keys.
2. Best IDaaS Solutions for LoRaWAN and NB-IoT
Some leading IDaaS platforms that support LPWAN integration include:
IDaaS Platform Key Features for LPWAN LoRaWAN/NB-IoT Support
Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) IoT Hub integration, Zero Trust, RBAC Azure IoT Edge, LoRa, NB-IoT
Okta SCIM provisioning, MFA, REST API Works with LoRaWAN gateways via API
ForgeRock IoT identity nodes, adaptive auth Supports device provisioning via MQTT/CoAP
Auth0 by Okta Token-based auth, OAuth 2.0, RBAC Easily integrates with LPWAN gateways
Keycloak (open-source) Federated identities, RBAC, JWT support Used in private LPWAN networks
3. Zero Trust Architecture for LPWAN Using IDaaS
Zero Trust assumes no implicit trust for any entity inside or outside the network. For LPWAN, Zero Trust with IDaaS includes:
Device Identity Verification: Each endpoint must authenticate before data exchange.
Least Privilege Access: Access is granted based only on what the device or user needs.
Continuous Monitoring: IDaaS logs access attempts and anomalies for all devices.
Micro-segmentation: Devices are segmented into access zones to contain breaches.
This is particularly vital for industrial LPWAN deployments where sensors might be located in remote, unsecured environments.
4. Cloud-Based IDaaS for Managing LPWAN Endpoints
Cloud-based IDaaS solutions offer:
Elastic Scalability: Easily manage millions of LPWAN endpoints.
High Availability: Redundancy and failover across cloud regions.
Integration with IoT Platforms: Native support for AWS IoT Core, Azure IoT Hub, Google IoT Core.
Centralized Policy Management: Apply identity policies across all LPWAN devices regardless of location or function.
These capabilities simplify security for distributed, resource-limited LPWAN nodes.
5. Provisioning and Onboarding LPWAN IoT Devices via IDaaS
Onboarding LPWAN devices securely is critical. IDaaS enables:
a. Zero-Touch Provisioning
Factory-injected credentials or QR-code-based onboarding for fast deployment.
b. Dynamic Enrollment
Gateways or NSs can register devices with the IDaaS platform automatically upon first connection.
c. Certificate-Based Enrollment
IDaaS issues digital certificates using Lightweight Enrollment Protocols (like EST or BRSKI).
d. Bulk Onboarding Tools
Support for CSV, API, or MQTT/CoAP-based mass device registration, especially in LoRaWAN networks.
6. IDaaS Support for MQTT and CoAP in LPWAN Networks
MQTT and CoAP are essential IoT protocols supported in LPWAN stacks. IDaaS can:
Provide OAuth 2.0 tokens or JWTs for MQTT/CoAP authentication
Enforce topic-level access controls for MQTT (e.g., only sensors with “read” role can publish to /data/temperature)
Support DTLS with CoAP for end-to-end encryption
Enable integration with MQTT brokers and CoAP proxies that enforce IDaaS-issued credentials
This ensures secure telemetry and command messages even over constrained LPWAN links.
7. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) for LPWAN with IDaaS
RBAC allows permissions based on defined roles. In LPWAN, roles may include:
| Role | Permissions |
|---|---|
sensor_read |
Publish sensor data |
actuator_write |
Receive commands |
gateway_admin |
Manage devices in gateway zone |
field_tech |
Access diagnostics and status info |
8. Integrating IDaaS with LPWAN Gateways and SCADA
To secure industrial environments:
a. Gateway Integration
Gateways authenticate with IDaaS using client credentials.
Enforce role-based access on data forwarded to SCADA or cloud.
Optionally, gateways serve as identity brokers for edge devices.
b. SCADA System Integration
Use IDaaS for user authentication to SCADA dashboards.
Enable Just-In-Time (JIT) access for maintenance staff via MFA.
Audit identity-based access to HMI, historian, or edge analytics platforms.
Such integration ensures LPWAN data entering industrial control systems is trusted, authorized, and traceable.
Conclusion
As LPWANs power the next generation of IoT systems, securing the identity of devices, users, and gateways becomes mission-critical. Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) enables robust identity provisioning, authentication, policy enforcement, and compliance—even in the resource-constrained, large-scale world of LPWAN.
By embracing Zero Trust, RBAC, and cloud-native identity models, organizations can transform LPWAN deployments into secure, manageable, and future-proof infrastructures.
An IDaaS consultant can play a pivotal role in securing LPWAN deployments by designing and implementing tailored identity management strategies. They assess your network architecture, recommend the most compatible IDaaS platforms, and ensure seamless integration with LPWAN gateways, cloud services, and SCADA systems. Consultants help automate device onboarding, enforce Zero Trust policies, and configure RBAC for large-scale IoT operations. They also support compliance with industry standards like IEC 62443 and GDPR. By leveraging their expertise, organizations can accelerate deployment, reduce security risks, and future-proof their LPWAN infrastructure against evolving threats and identity challenges.