The deployment of long-range, low-power wireless technologies, such as LoRa and LoRaWAN, has revolutionized the way data is collected and transmitted in industrial environments. These technologies make it possible to connect sensors and devices distributed over large areas without the need for cellular infrastructure or high energy consumption. However, their growing adoption also raises significant cybersecurity challenges, especially in OT networks, where data integrity and availability are critical.
LoRa vs. LoRaWAN
- LoRa (Long Range): It is the system’s physical layer. It defines the radio modulation and the communication protocol between end devices and gateways. It is designed to be highly interference resistant and to enable communication over several kilometers.
- LoRaWAN: It is the network and higher-level protocol layer that defines how devices communicate with gateways and network servers. It includes mechanisms for encryption, authentication and data management.
At a technical level, LoRa uses a spread spectrum modulation called Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS), which allows information to be transmitted over long distances with low energy consumption, even in the presence of interference. This makes it an ideal option for large, rural, or metal-structured industrial environments.
LoRaWAN defines three classes of devices (Class A, B, and C), which determine how often devices can receive messages. Class A is the most energy efficient, while Class C allows almost continuous reception at the cost of higher consumption. The typical architecture includes:
- End devices (sensors/actuators)
- Gateways acting as a bridge between LoRa and IP networks.
- Network server for authentication and forwarding.
- Application server that interprets the received data.
Security depends on proper implementation of AES-128 encryption and robust key management.
Industrial applications of LoRaWAN
- Environmental monitoring (temperature, humidity, gases).
- Remote measurement of energy or water consumption.
- Access control and presence in industrial areas.
- Asset tracking and logistics within plants or rural areas.
- Alarms and predictive maintenance in distributed infrastructures (pipelines, solar plants, etc.).
Cybersecurity risks in LoRaWAN networks
- Device spoofing.
- Data interception without end-to-end encryption.
- Packet replay (replay attacks).
- Channel saturation (Denial of Service).
- Key reuse across multiple devices.
Security recommendations for LoRaWAN in OT
- Use unique keys per device.
- Configure AES-128 encryption at both network and application levels.
- Validate integrity and mutual authentication.
- Control gateway access and join channels.
- Monitor anomalous traffic patterns.
- Avoid direct exposure of the LoRaWAN network to critical OT.
Integration with InprOTech Guardian
The InprOTech Guardian platform can play a key role in the monitoring and protection of LoRaWAN networks in OT environments. Although LoRa operates as an access network, data ultimately flows into IP networks where Guardian can inspect traffic, detect anomalies and correlate events.
- Detection of unusual traffic from gateways to servers.
- Correlation of suspicious behavior among devices.
- Alerts for device spoofing or unauthorized gateways.
- Honeypots to capture simulated malicious traffic.
- Identification of repeated packets or replay attacks.
- Detection of devices using shared keys.
Guardian analyzes patterns, schedules and transmission frequencies, offering a centralized visual interface that allows industrial operators to quickly detect and respond to security incidents.
Conclusion
LoRa and LoRaWAN provide an efficient and scalable solution to connect distributed devices in industrial environments. However, their adoption must be accompanied by a secure architecture. Tools like InprOTech Guardian help increase visibility and control over these networks, ensuring the integrity, availability and confidentiality of data in modern OT environments.