QSAFE: Quantum Secure Architectures Fit for Embedded Devices

The adoption of 5G technologies will exponentially increase the number of global IoT devices.  This coupled with continued advances of quantum technologies that could destroy today’s security infrastructures, spells disaster if we do not act. The best solution is to begin making these IoT devices secure-by-design, meaning include security and cryptographic algorithms from the beginning. This proposal seeks to implement quantum-safe cryptographic solutions into IoT devices connected to the open, programmable, secure 5G (OPS-5G) network created by DARPA. The project QSAFE (Quantum Secure Architectures Fit for Embedded devices) will  investigate the deployment and practical implementations of quantum-resistant  cryptographic methods for embedded and constrained IoT devices in 5G settings. The QSAFE team will evaluate procedures that have an adequate security levels based on the NIST recommendations and implement them efficiently in size, weight, and power (SWaP) constrained devices employed in IoTs both in hardware and software. In the QSAFE project, PQSecure will collaborate with Perspecta Labs to integrate and evaluate the impact of quantum-resistant cryptography in an open, programmable, and secure 5G system (OPS-5G). To provide highly assured cryptographic implementations and deployment, PQSecure will also collaborate with Galois Inc. to provide best industry and defense grade solutions. PQSecure plans to also adopt a wireless sensor network from Florida Atlantic University for the integration into a real network with various data rate capabilities. The United States standards setting body, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is currently in a multi-year process to standardize quantum-safe cryptographic algorithms that are resistant to attacks by classical as well as quantum computers. QSAFE will first assess several of these protocols (PQSecure is a contributor) and check if they are suitable and fit for the use cases in embedded and IoT devices in the OPS-5G setting. Then, it will investigate the best solution in terms of deployment in hardware, software, or combination of both. Upon feasible and efficient deployment, the IoT device will be integrated to the real-world network and various parameters such as speed, performance and security will be evaluated.