Bitwise Rotation Cipher Based Encryption Model for Real Time Data Security in Marine IoT Networks

Abstract

The increasing proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has intensified the demand for lightweight and energyefficient encryption techniques capable of securing data transmissions between edge devices and cloud platforms. Conventional encryption methods such as AES or RSA, though secure, impose high computational and power overhead, making them impractical for resource-constrained environments. This paper proposes an enhanced Bitwise Rotation Cipher that combines left and right bit rotations with XOR operations and position-based variability to achieve a lightweight yet effective encryption mechanism. Designed specifically for IoT-to-Cloud communication, the algorithm introduces minimal latency and power consumption while ensuring basic confidentiality for non-critical data. The encryption is performed on an 8-bit ASCII level, allowing compatibility with low-power microcontrollers such as ESP32 or Raspberry Pi Zero. The cipher’s performance is validated through a simulated edge-to-cloud transmission model using MQTT and cloud functions for decryption. In addition to generic IoT applications, the method is also applicable to marine and maritime IoT deployments such as offshore sensor nodes, port automation systems, vessel tracking units, and ocean-environment monitoring. Experimental results demonstrate the technique’s suitability for scenarios requiring fast, secure, and lowresource data protection, such as environmental monitoring, smart homes, educational IoT systems, and marine data communication networks.