Blockchain for Critical Infrastructure Security: Applications and Challenges

Critical Infrastructure Systems (CIS) govern mission-critical operational technologies in sectors such as power generation, oil and gas, water utilities, and manufacturing. This paper conducts a critical analysis of blockchain technology’s applicability to CIS cybersecurity, evaluating its potential to enhance data integrity, secure communications, and strengthen resilience against cyberattacks. A technical framework addresses integration challenges with legacy infrastructure, while empirical benchmarks quantify blockchain’s trade-offs in throughput i.e. 100–3,000 Transaction per Second (TPS), latency (0.5–15 seconds), and energy efficiency. The analysis demonstrates blockchain’s unique value in tamper-proof auditability (85% completeness gains) and decentralized cross-organizational trust but reveals limitations in real-time performance and smart contract vulnerabilities (43% flaw prevalence). By contrasting blockchain with alternatives like AI-driven threat detection and Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), this work provides a decision-making framework for practitioners, emphasizing hybrid models that pair blockchain’s immutability with ZTA’s granular access control. The paper concludes that blockchain’s role in CIS is context-specific, requiring strategic implementation, regulatory collaboration, and pilot programs to mitigate scalability and interoperability challenges.