The Shift Toward Post-Quantum Cryptography in Embedded Systems: Challenges and Opportunities
As quantum computing continues to develop, the cybersecurity landscape is preparing for a profound shift: the migration toward post-quantum cryptography (PQC). This transition is especially vital for embedded systems, where cryptographic resilience is essential.
As quantum computing continues to develop, the cybersecurity landscape is preparing for a profound shift: the migration toward post-quantum cryptography (PQC). This transition is especially vital for embedded systems, where cryptographic resilience is essential. At the recent Embedded World North America conference, Joost Renes, a principal security architect at NXP Semiconductors, underscored the urgency of transitioning embedded systems to withstand future quantum threats.
The Quantum Threat to Current Cryptography
The arrival of quantum computing brings both innovation and risk, as algorithms like RSA and ECC—currently used to secure communications and protect data—face potential compromise by quantum algorithms such as Shor’s and Grover’s. Shor’s algorithm, for example, can solve mathematical problems that form the backbone of RSA and ECC, putting encrypted communications and sensitive data at risk.
This risk isn’t just hypothetical. Quantum computing advances suggest that powerful quantum machines could disrupt encryption by as early as 2030, making it critical for organizations to start planning now.
Post-Quantum Cryptography: A New Solution
The solution lies in adopting PQC, which aims to resist quantum attacks while being implementable on classical hardware, thus providing long-term security. Unlike quantum key distribution (QKD), which requires quantum-based hardware, PQC focuses on classical algorithms that today’s systems can adopt. This focus makes PQC particularly relevant to embedded systems, which typically have limited processing power and memory.
Transitioning to PQC, however, is complex. PQC algorithms often require significantly more resources than their predecessors, with public key sizes and ciphertexts growing to 1.5 kilobytes—an increase that could strain embedded systems designed for efficiency. Organizations like NXP, however, are working to reduce the memory requirements of PQC algorithms, enhancing the feasibility of deploying PQC in embedded environments.
Emerging Standards and Compliance
Major regulatory bodies, including the NSA, NIST, and the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), have already begun setting standards for PQC. For example, the CNSA 2.0 initiative aims to transition firmware signatures to post-quantum standards by 2025. These standards underscore the necessity of adopting PQC sooner rather than later, encouraging organizations to stay ahead of the quantum threat.
Crypto Agility: Building Resilient Systems
To future-proof embedded systems, Renes emphasizes the need for “crypto agility”—the ability of systems to adapt to new cryptographic algorithms over time. This agility will allow embedded systems to seamlessly update their security protocols, particularly crucial as algorithms like Transport Layer Security (TLS) are expected to adopt PQC in the coming years.
In addition to securing communications, advancements in quantum algorithms could drive optimization in sectors such as logistics, machine learning, and pharmaceuticals, enabling more efficient solutions to complex data problems.
Addressing Side-Channel and Fault Injection Attacks
Even as organizations focus on PQC, side-channel and fault injection attacks remain a concern. These attacks exploit vulnerabilities in the physical implementation of cryptographic systems. Side-channel attacks can glean information through power usage, while fault injection introduces errors to manipulate system behavior. Ensuring the security of PQC implementations against such attacks is crucial for the resilience of embedded systems.
Looking Forward: Preparing for the Quantum Era
Although quantum computers capable of breaking current encryption may still be years away, organizations must take proactive steps to ensure their systems can withstand future quantum threats. Companies like NXP are leading the charge, working to optimize PQC for embedded environments and reduce the resources required for these new algorithms.
Investing in crypto agility, complying with emerging PQC standards, and reinforcing implementation security can ensure a smooth transition to the post-quantum era. The move toward PQC is both a necessary defense against future cyber threats and a powerful opportunity for innovation in embedded systems.
By preparing now, organizations can secure their infrastructures for tomorrow, protecting data and communications from the inevitable advances in quantum computing.