Cybersecurity in Critical Infrastructures: A Post-Quantum Cryptography Perspective

TL;DR

This paper discusses the challenges and requirements of implementing post-quantum cryptography in critical infrastructure environments, emphasizing the need for quantum-resistant security solutions due to emerging quantum threats.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of the specific needs of critical infrastructure for PQC and reviews current PQC protocols suitable for industrial environments.

Findings

Quantum computers threaten classical cryptography protocols.

PQC protocols vary in computational requirements and security features.

Integration of PQC in industrial environments faces unique challenges.

Abstract

The machinery of industrial environments was connected to the Internet years ago with the scope of increasing their performance. However, this change made such environments vulnerable against cyber-attacks that can compromise their correct functioning resulting in economic or social problems. Moreover, implementing cryptosystems in the communications between operational technology (OT) devices is a more challenging task than for information technology (IT) environments since the OT networks are generally composed of legacy elements, characterized by low-computational capabilities. Consequently, implementing cryptosystems in industrial communication networks faces a trade-off between the security of the communications and the amortization of the industrial infrastructure. Critical Infrastructure (CI) refers to the industries which provide key resources for the daily social and economical development, e.g. electricity. Furthermore, a new threat to cybersecurity has arisen with the theoretical proposal of quantum computers, due to their potential ability of breaking state-of-the-art cryptography protocols, such as RSA or ECC. Many global agents have become aware that transitioning their secure communications to a quantum secure paradigm is a priority that should be established before the arrival of fault-tolerance. In this paper, we aim to describe the problematic of implementing post-quantum cryptography (PQC) to CI environments. For doing so, we describe the requirements for these scenarios and how they differ against IT. We also introduce classical cryptography and how quantum computers pose a threat to such security protocols. Furthermore, we introduce state-of-the-art proposals of PQC protocols and present their characteristics. We conclude by discussing the problematic of integrating PQC in industrial environments.