Adaptive Energy-Security Framework for IoT Devices Using Hybrid SPECK and Kyber Encryption

Abstract

With the fast growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), the problem of secure and energy-efficient data exchange in resource-constrained settings has become even more challenging. The traditional cryptographic systems (RSA and ECC) are resource-consuming and susceptible to quantum attacks, and lightweight cyphers are not only less powerful but also energy-efficient. This study is a proposal of an adaptive hybrid encryption system (adjusting in real time) that dynamically utilises either a lightweight SPECK cypher or a post-quantum secure Kyber algorithm based on the energy consumption of the devices and the sensitivity of the data. The system will feature a PQC offload controller that manages key encapsulation and minimises computation latency. Simulation results in an OMNeT++ environment have shown that the proposed model is up to 45 per cent more energy-efficient and up to 40 per cent longer-lived than PQC models alone, while supporting 99 per cent security resilience against both classical and quantum attacks. Throughput levels of 1,600 packets per second are achieved by the approach, which is a trade-off between energy usage and post-quantum security, and is acceptable. It is an effective method of minimising energy use and reducing the risk of quantum attacks in IoT networks used in healthcare, industrial, and innovative city applications. With the assistance of this adaptable structure, it emphasises its relevance to energy-constrained devices.