A Novel Post-Quantum Cryptography-Based Authentication and Secret Key Establishment Protocol for Smart Grid
The increasing integration of smart grids within the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem requires the implementation of robust security measures due to vulnerabilities brought about by pervasive connectivity. Previous smart grid security protocols are based on classical cryptographic algorithms, which are susceptible to significant threats from emerging quantum computers. Consequently, the adoption of quantum-resistant solutions is imperative for the long-term security of smart grids. This paper presents a novel protocol for authentication and secret key establishment in smart grids, utilizing post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms. Our proposed protocol employs the FALCON digital signature algorithm for integrity verification and the CRYSTALS-Kyber key encapsulation mechanism (KEM) for secret key establishment, providing robust protection against quantum attacks. Our optimized implementation of the proposed protocol on a graphics processing unit (GPU) targets grid security module (GSM)/gateway-side deployments and demonstrates scalability under large numbers of concurrent authentication requests. Experimental validation demonstrates the proposed protocol's ability to effectively manage numerous concurrent authentication requests, ensuring secure and efficient communication within smart grid networks.