ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we assess the security considerations associated with integrating wireless sensor networks (WSNs) into the Internet of Things (IoT). Our main concern stems from new potential threats to the current security solutions employed in these applications. Particularly, the potential construction of a large-scale quantum computer in the upcoming decade could enable attackers to compromise some widely used public-key cryptography (PKC) algorithms: RSA, DSA, Diffie–Hellman, ECDH, and ECDSA. In order to counteract this threat, multiple organizations led by the U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technology have launched a standardization process seeking PKC algorithms that can resist quantum-enabled attacks. Hence, it can be expected that IoT standards will consequently be updated to adapt for this new threat scenario. However, it is unclear whether these solutions can be adopted by WSN devices, given the processing, memory, power, and bandwidth constraints of this technology. In our work, we study multiple foreseeable outcomes as a result of this shift in security concerns and identify the different challenges and opportunities for each case.
