How to Secure Blockchains from Attacks: A Security Reference Architecture for Distributed Ledger Technologies

Table of Contents

Introduction

• What are blockchains and why are they important?
• What are the main security challenges and limitations of blockchains?
• What is the main goal and contribution of the paper?

The Security Reference Architecture

• What is the security reference architecture (SRA) and how does it work?
• What are the two models of the SRA: the stacked model and the threat-risk assessment model?
• How does the SRA help to systematize and extend the knowledge about the security and privacy aspects of blockchains?

The Stacked Model

• What are the four layers of the stacked model: network, consensus, replicated state machine, and application?
• What are the types of threats and countermeasures at each layer?
• How do the layers interact and depend on each other?

The Threat-Risk Assessment Model

• What are the components and actors of the threat-risk assessment model: owners, assets, threat agents, threats, countermeasures, and risks?
• How does the threat-risk assessment model help to identify, assess, and mitigate security threats in blockchain systems?