When　terminal　devices　attempt　to　access　the　industrial　internet　of　things　(IIoT),　preventing　illegal　access　from　untrusted　terminals　becomes　challenging.　This　difficulty　arises　because　most　devices　adopt　the　commonly　used　traditional　methods　of　accessing　the　internet　of　things.　To　address　this　challenge,　we　propose　a　perception-layer-based　IIoT　trusted　connection　architecture,　derived　from　the　trusted　connection　architecture　(TCA),　and　names　it　TCA-IIoT.　This　architecture　enables　bidirectional　identity　and　platform　integrity　authentication　between　access　points　and　terminals,　while　also　ensuring　trusted　authentication　of　IIoT　terminal　behavior.　To　validate　the　effectiveness　of　TCA-IIoT,　the　paper　details　a　simulation　experiment.　This　experiment　centers　on　evaluating　the　success　rate　of　data　transmission　and　measuring　the　average　delay　under　various　conditions,　including　scenarios　with　malicious　nodes.　The　results　of　the　study　indicate　that　TCA-IIoT　markedly　improves　the　security　and　reliability　of　IIoT　networks,　advancements　that　are　vital　for　the　sustainable　development　and　broader　application　of　these　systems.　©　2024　John　Wiley　&　Sons　Ltd.