Quantum-Resistant Security for Software Updates on Low-power Networked Embedded Devices
Published in Preprint / Work in Progress, 2021
As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to expand, long-lived devices will require protection against future quantum adversaries. This paper studies the applicability of quantum-resistant digital signatures to secure software updates based on the IETF SUIT standard.
Key points:
- Benchmarks on Cortex-M, RISC-V, and ESP32 for LMS, Falcon, Dilithium vs. Ed25519 and ECDSA
- Focus on RAM, flash, CPU time, and energy impact
- Practical guidance on selecting PQ signatures for real-world embedded systems
- Analysis of SUIT integration trade-offs in post-quantum settings
This work serves as a realistic roadmap for deploying post-quantum security in embedded firmware update infrastructures.
Recommended citation: Gustavo Banegas, Koen Zandberg, Adrian Herrmann, Emmanuel Baccelli, Benjamin Smith. (2021). "Quantum-Resistant Security for Software Updates on Low-power Networked Embedded Devices." Preprint.
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