IICoSeP - Increasing Industrial Communication Security by Physical Layer Security
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Contact: Stefan Köpsell, Paul Walther
MOTIVATION
Sensors, actuators and other technical components and devices are increasingly being networked in the so-called Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Networking enables application scenarios such as machine-to-machine or machine-to-service communication. Cyber-physical production systems as well as industrial automation and control systems are also becoming increasingly flexible due to increased interconnectivity and embedded systems. This places high demands on information and communication technology in the areas of scalability, security, integrity and reliability. However, many of the integrated components do not have sufficient security mechanisms to withstand the growing number of cyber attacks. The deployed components are often limited in terms of resources, for example, do not have sufficient storage capacity or computing power to apply established and powerful cryptography.
GOALS AND APPROACH
The project "Increasing Industrial Communication Security by Physical Layer Security" (IICoSeP) aims at improving the security, integrity and confidentiality of industrial communication infrastructures by physical layer security (PLS) methods. To this end, methods of wired and wireless PLS are being researched. Industry 4.0 applications that rely on wired communication will be secured by an individual, physically defined, digital fingerprint (Physically Unclonable Function). In the wireless domain, PLS methods are used to secure 5G campus networks, among others. In both deployment areas (wired and wireless PLS), machine learning methods will be used to improve application performance. Novel hardware accelerators based on freely programmable integrated circuits will ensure efficient use of these methods.
INNOVATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES
The innovations of the project lie on the one hand in the change of the conventional information-theory-driven PLS to a signal-processing approach, and on the other hand in the holistic application of PLS in wireless as well as wired communication in combination with secure authentication. The use of AI hardware accelerators in the terminals is a response to the complex requirements imposed by growing interconnectivity. The approach to be explored in the project can potentially reduce costs, energy consumption and latency, as well as improve the reliability, confidentiality and integrity of the devices involved. Thus, the solution contributes to increasing IT security in highly scalable and highly flexible IIoT environments.
