Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for generating a unique ID for a sensor in a network. Once the sensor is installed on a component of the network, the sensor can send attributes of the sensor to a control server of the network. The attributes of the sensor can include at least one unique identifier of the sensor or the host component of the sensor. The control server can determine a hash value using a one-way hash function and a secret key, send the hash value to the sensor, and designate the hash value as a sensor ID of the sensor. In response to receiving the sensor ID, the sensor can incorporate the sensor ID in subsequent communication messages. Other components of the network can verify the validity of the sensor using a hash of the at least one unique identifier of the sensor and the secret key.