Hardware-Based Security Mechanisms for IoT Devices in Emerging Economies

Underpinning smart systems in homes, farms, industries, and public services is the security of Internet-connected devices, which relies fundamentally on embedded hardware components. In emerging economies, the rapid expansion of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies occurs alongside persistent constraints in resources and infrastructure, making hardware security not only a technical concern but also a developmental imperative.
This study examines how hardware-based security techniques protect IoT devices and evaluates the extent to which these mechanisms remain effective in environments characterized by limited budgets, inconsistent standards, and evolving cybersecurity capacities. A systematic literature review approach was employed, involving the collection, screening, and synthesis of recent scholarly works to capture contemporary perspectives on secure boot processes, cryptographic chips, trusted execution environments, physically unclonable functions, and related hardware-based defenses.
Findings indicate that hardware-rooted trust models provide robust resistance to physical tampering and unauthorized access. However, their implementation requires significant investment, specialized supply chains, stable power infrastructure, and skilled personnel, all of which may be unevenly available in developing regions.
The study concludes that strengthening hardware security in IoT systems within emerging economies requires more than technological solutions. It calls for strategic and inclusive innovation that accounts for cost constraints, infrastructural limitations, and the need for scalable, context-sensitive security frameworks.