<p>The Cloud-based Internet of Things (IoT) is a widely adopted system concept that combines the advantages of IoT and the cloud. In this architecture, the cloud server provides on-demand data services, whereas the Internet of Things gathers data from the real world. A growing number of people and companies are sending their IoT data to cloud servers due to the prevalent use of cloud computing and IoT. Concerns about confidentiality and privacy arise when there is extensive data access on IoT devices. Due to the interconnection of millions of smart devices worldwide, data transmission over networks is frequently subject to several security and efficiency issues. Regarding authentication and data integrity during network transmission, cryptographic algorithms can address privacy issues in IoT networks. But the ciphertext produced by conventional encryption techniques is difficult to search when used later. Secure keyword search over cloud ciphertexts can be accomplished as a solution using public key encryption with keyword search (PEKS). In this article, we introduce a multi-user PEKS paradigm that is forward-secure. Our model is resistant to KGA and uses a designated tester to ensure trapdoor security. In addition, we have demonstrated that our model incurs lower storage costs compared to other state-of-the-art schemes. We have also proved that our scheme is secure in the random oracle model against two kinds of adversaries. The validity of the proposed scheme is verified through the Scyther software. Our model’s effectiveness and viability in a real-world Internet of Things environment are demonstrated by experimental simulations.</p>