Non-gateway device authentication

Owned by Aaron Allsbrook
Last updated: Feb 21, 2024 by Jeff Slavin (Unlicensed)
2 min read

Non-gateway devices must be authenticated to ClearBlade IoT Core through the gateway. After the devices are authenticated, the gateway can perform various tasks on the devices' behalf.

The method that a gateway can use to authenticate a device to ClearBlade IoT Core depends on whether you're using the MQTT or HTTP bridge.

Authenticating over the MQTT bridge

You can select an authentication method when you create the gateway. Choose one of the following:

  • Association only: The least secure method, it delegates device authentication to the gateway. When the device attaches to the gateway, ClearBlade IoT Core checks whether or not the device is associated with or bound to the gateway. If the device is bound, it's authorized to communicate with ClearBlade IoT Core through the gateway. This method is useful when the device can't store and send its JWT or uses a different authentication method other than JWT.

  • Device credential only: The gateway sends the device's JWT or generates and sends a JWT on the device's behalf. Because this method associates a JWT with the device, the device isn't required to be bound to the gateway. Use this method when you want devices to switch to a different gateway based on proximity or other factors or when the devices can generate their JWTs but can’t connect to the internet.

  • Association and device credential: The most secure method. When a bound device attaches to the gateway, ClearBlade IoT Core authenticates it by checking the gateway's JWT, the device's JWT, and whether or not the device is associated with or bound to the gateway.

See Using gateways with the MQTT bridge for more details.

Authenticating over the HTTP bridge

You must bind the device to the gateway and then supply the device or gateway JWT in every HTTP request. ClearBlade IoT Core checks the bound device's association with the gateway and the supplied JWT to authenticate the device. This provides a similar security level as when you use the MQTT bridge to send the association and the device's JWT for authentication.

See Using gateways with the HTTP bridge for more details.