A Use Case Analysis for Identity Management in Industrial Systems

As industrial systems increasingly integrate Information
Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT), the
need for robust identity management solutions becomes critical to
ensure the security and integrity of these complex environments.
Traditional approaches to identity management are often unable to
address the unique challenges of industrial systems, which require
secure and reliable methods for managing multiple identities
across different devices, applications and networks. This paper
presents a novel approach for improved identity management
by integrating blockchain-based Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) into
industrial systems. By leveraging the decentralized and immutable
nature of blockchain technology, SSI provides a secure, scalable
and tamper-proof solution for managing identities in industrial
contexts. Several use cases are discussed that illustrate the
practical application of blockchain-based SSI in securing cell/area
zones, administrative users, infrastructure services, plant-wide
applications, and other critical aspects of industrial systems.
Through these discussions, the paper shows how blockchain-based
SSI can significantly improve identity management by ensuring
that all entities within an industrial network are authenticated,
authorized, and protected against a variety of cyber threats.