Symmetry and Asymmetry in Data Science: Blockchain, IoT and Security

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid evolution of data-driven technologies has introduced complex challenges and opportunities in building secure, efficient, and scalable systems. This Special Issue investigates how symmetry and asymmetry shape the design, analysis, and protection of modern data-driven infrastructures based on blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), and security-critical applications. Symmetry emerges in replicated ledgers, consensus protocols, resilient network topologies, redundant sensing infrastructures, and invariances in data distributions that can be exploited for robust learning and inference. Asymmetry arises in public–private key cryptography, heterogeneous device capabilities, imbalanced data flows between cloud, edge, and fog, and the intrinsic power gap between attackers and defenders.

We welcome original research articles and comprehensive reviews proposing innovative approaches, performance optimization techniques, and analyses of emerging trends across the full data lifecycle from sensing and collection to distributed storage, analytics, and decision-making in cyber–physical environments. Interdisciplinary contributions and works that combine solid theoretical foundations with simulations, testbeds, or real-world case studies are particularly encouraged.

We look forward to your contributions to advance knowledge and practice in this critical area.

Dr. AbdulHalim Dandoush
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Symmetry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.