Securing the Internet of Things in a Quantum World

Abstract

Currently, we rely on cryptographic algorithms such as elliptic curve cryptosystems (ECCs) as basic building blocks to secure the communication in the IoT. However, public key schemes like ECC can easily be broken by the upcoming quantum computers. Due to recent advances in quantum computing, we should act now to prepare the IoT for the quantum world. In this article, we focus on the current state of the art and recent developments in the area of quantum-resistant cryptosystems for securing the IoT. We first demonstrate the impacts of quantum computers on the security of the cryptographic schemes used today, and then give an overview of the recommendations for cryptographic schemes that can be secure under the attacks of both classical and quantum computers. After that, we present the existing implementations of quantum-resistant cryptographic schemes on constrained devices suitable for the IoT. Finally, we give an introduction to ongoing projects for quantum-resistant schemes that will help develop future security solutions for the IoT.