Self-configurable security model and lightweight cryptography to mitigate cyber security challenges in the Smart Cities and Internet of Things

The purpose of this project is to develop a security architecture that implements lightweight energy efficient cryptographic algorithms and self-configurable system strategy that can detect, thwart and prevent potential threats and allow the system to self-adapt for any future threats (because of dynamic changing conditions of the IoTs) by applying heuristics.

Internet of Things (IoT) consists of constrained devices, i.e. with low power, processing speed and memory. This means the security measures that evolved during the last few decades cannot be directly implemented therefore, new lightweight cryptographic standards are required that can run on constrained devices such as car engines, light bulbs, refrigerators, smart meters, or any wireless sensing nodes. Also, the security models and mechanisms used currently are hard to change or reuse and are not reconfigurable to adapt to the threats. Energy optimization and security measures are reciprocal since implementing rigorous algorithms that require higher computing resources will demand more energy, therefore a balance is required, for e.g. is it possible to implement a key size that is small enough requiring less computing resources but still secure enough for the necessity.

The purpose of this project is to develop a security architecture that implements lightweight energy efficient cryptographic algorithms and self-configurable system strategy that can detect, thwart and prevent potential threats and allow the system to self-adapt for any future threats (because of dynamic changing conditions of the IoTs) by applying heuristics.