SYMMETRIC ENCRYPTION AND CRYPTOGRAPHY ALGORITHMS IN INTERNET OF THINGS

The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has intensified security challenges, particularly for devices with limited computational and energy resources. Symmetric encryption, due to its efficiency and adaptability, has emerged as a crucial solution for safeguarding IoT environments. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of 130 peer-reviewed publications indexed in the Web of Science (2011– 2024), mapping the intellectual structure, emerging themes, and influential contributors in symmetric cryptography for IoT. Using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny, the results highlight China and India as leading contributors and identify key research areas such as lightweight encryption, hardware-optimized cryptographic protocols, and blockchain-based security solutions. Additionally, the findings underscore increasing interest in AI-driven cryptographic models and scalable key management strategies. Despite providing valuable insights, the study acknowledges limitations in database scope and methodological depth. Future research is recommended to expand data sources, explore hybrid cryptographic approaches, and design intelligent, energy-efficient security frameworks tailored to evolving IOT needs.