Reconfigurable Security Architecture (RESA) Based on PUF for FPGA-Based IoT Devices

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Cybersecurity

Background:

• Internet of Things (IoT) device utilization presents significant cybersecurity challenges.
• Robust authentication is a critical security requirement for IoT devices, especially those with extended operational lifetimes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a lightweight authentication protocol specifically designed for FPGA-based IoT devices.
• To enhance the security of IoT devices with long lifetimes against evolving threats.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a novel authentication protocol leveraging Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) technology.
• Evaluation of the protocol's resilience against contemporary machine learning-based attack vectors.
• Focus on Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) hardware for IoT device implementation.

Main Results:

• The proposed PUF-based authentication protocol offers a lightweight solution for IoT security.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in resisting sophisticated machine learning attacks targeting authentication mechanisms.
• Suitable for resource-constrained, long-lifetime FPGA-based IoT applications.

Conclusions:

• Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) technology provides a viable and effective approach for securing IoT devices.
• The developed lightweight protocol enhances the cybersecurity posture of long-lifetime IoT systems.
• The solution is particularly well-suited for FPGA implementations, addressing practical deployment challenges.