Low-cost Security for Next-generation IoT Networks

Abstract

In recent years, the ubiquitous nature of Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications as well as the pervasive character of next-generation communication protocols, such as the 5G technology, have become widely evident. In this work, we identify the need for low-cost security in current and next-generation IoT networks and address this demand through the implementation, testing, and validation of an intrinsic low-cost and low-overhead hardware-based security primitive within an inherent network component. In particular, an intrinsic Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) is implemented in the peripheral network module of a tri-band commercial off-the-shelf router. Subsequently, we demonstrate the robustness of this PUF to ambient temperature variations and to limited natural aging, and examine in detail its potential for securing the next generation of IoT networks and other applications. Finally, the security of the proposed PUF-based schemes is briefly assessed and discussed.