The role of Large Language Models in IoT security: A systematic review of advances, challenges, and opportunities

Abstract

The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized digital ecosystems by interconnecting billions of devices across various industries, enabling enhanced automation, real-time monitoring, and data-driven decision-making. However, this expansion has introduced significant security and privacy challenges due to the heterogeneous nature of IoT devices, resource constraints, and the decentralized nature of their architectures. Large Language Models (LLMs) have recently shown promise in improving cybersecurity by enabling automated threat intelligence, anomaly detection, malware classification, and privacy-aware security enforcement. Therefore, this systematic review investigates research published between 2015 and 2025 to examine the intersection of LLMs, IoT security, and privacy. We evaluate state-of-the-art LLM-based security frameworks, highlighting their effectiveness, limitations, and impact on IoT cybersecurity. In addition, this review identifies key research gaps and challenges, providing insight into the scalability, efficiency, and adaptability of LLM-driven security solutions. This work aims to contribute to the advancement of AI-driven IoT security frameworks, supporting the development of resilient and privacy-preserving cybersecurity architectures.