A Bio-Inspired Blockchain-Based Adaptive Cyber Defense Framework for Hierarchical Network Infrastructures

Integrating Artificial Immune Systems, Blockchain Integrity, and AI-Driven Self-Healing Mechanisms

Abstract

Modern network infrastructures are increasingly exposed to sophisticated cyberattacks that exploit hierarchical privilege levels and data vulnerabilities. This paper proposes a bio-inspired, blockchain-enabled cyber defense framework inspired from the human immune system to provide adaptive, self- healing, and tamper-resistant security. The network is represented as a hierarchical binary tree, where the central server functions as the brain, network interface controllers (NIC) act as the nervous system, and individual nodes represent cells with varying privilege levels. When a low-privilege node is compromised, the framework employs crypto-shedding with salting to ensure that attackers obtain only irrecoverable data. Simultaneously, the compromised node is removed and replaced by a copy node embedded with an AI-based patching mechanism. This enables the system to record and recall attack vectors, mimicking the function of immune memory cells for a faster response to recurring threats. To prevent tampering, all system logs and node data are stored on a blockchain, ensuring transparency and immutability. The proposed model provides a novel approach to cybersecurity by integrating bio-inspired defense mechanisms with blockchain-backed data integrity, offering a scalable and adaptive solution for securing hierarchical networks across diverse applications.