Abstract Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have become a popular solution for monitoring and controlling industrial processes. However, these networks are vulnerable to security threats, such as eavesdropping, data tampering, node compromise, and denial of service attacks. To address these challenges, we propose a Robust Secure Communication (RISC) protocol that provides secure and reliable communication for industrial WSNs. In this article, we present the results of our experimental simulations and sensitivity analysis of the RISC protocol, which demonstrate its effectiveness in terms of performance and security. We also compare the RISC protocol with other state-of-the-art security protocols and discuss the strengths and limitations of each approach. Our findings highlight the robustness of the RISC protocol and its effectiveness in securing industrial WSNs against different types of security threats.