Abstract In the last decade, there have been many research proposals on the potentials of incorporating cloud computing technology to the electrical power grid as it evolves rapidly to the smart grid. The advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is one domain of the smart grid that can be greatly impacted by cloud computing technology with regards to an improved capability for data storage and computations, which will be a serious burden to the AMI in an evolved smart grid environment. In our previous study, a cloud‐based OpenFlow firewall for the mitigation of distributed denial‐of‐service attacks in a smart grid AMI (SG AMI) was proposed. In that study, it was clearly demonstrated that cloud computing technology, in addition to improving the storage and computation capability of the AMI, can also be leveraged on to enhance the security of the SG AMI in an attack scenario. In this study, we propose a cloud‐based SG AMI system model utilizing quantum key distribution (QKD) cryptography for enhancing the security of a cloud‐based SG AMI. The proposed model has been designed to complement the security features of the previously designed OpenFlow firewall to guarantee not only the availability but also the confidentiality and integrity of data traversing the AMI network and beyond. The analysis on computation and communication costs shows that the protocols utilized in the proposed system model are lightweight protocols. In addition, results from the simulation of the QKD (BB84) protocol show that QKD can be leveraged on to provide information theoretic security for the cloud‐based SG AMI.
Abstract In the last decade, there have been many research proposals on the potentials of incorporating cloud computing technology to the electrical power grid as it evolves rapidly to the smart grid. The advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is one domain of the smart grid that can be greatly impacted by cloud computing technology with regards to an improved capability for data storage and computations, which will be a serious burden to the AMI in an evolved smart grid environment. In our previous study, a cloud‐based OpenFlow firewall for the mitigation of distributed denial‐of‐service attacks in a smart grid AMI (SG AMI) was proposed. In that study, it was clearly demonstrated that cloud computing technology, in addition to improving the storage and computation capability of the AMI, can also be leveraged on to enhance the security of the SG AMI in an attack scenario. In this study, we propose a cloud‐based SG AMI system model utilizing quantum key distribution (QKD) cryptography for enhancing the security of a cloud‐based SG AMI. The proposed model has been designed to complement the security features of the previously designed OpenFlow firewall to guarantee not only the availability but also the confidentiality and integrity of data traversing the AMI network and beyond. The analysis on computation and communication costs shows that the protocols utilized in the proposed system model are lightweight protocols. In addition, results from the simulation of the QKD (BB84) protocol show that QKD can be leveraged on to provide information theoretic security for the cloud‐based SG AMI.
Smart grids face emerging threats as connectivity expands attack surfaces. To strengthen smart meter data encryption through optimized integration of a cloud-based quantum random number generator (QRNG) service. QRNGs leverage intrinsic quantum properties to produce true randomness for cryptographic keys. An architecture is presented utilizing a QRNG service on the IBM quantum computing platform. Quantum entropy is remotely sampled and delivered on-demand via APIs to generate quantum random AES encryption keys for smart meter communications. Homomorphic encryption secures credential transmission. Compared to mathematical pseudorandom number generators, the quantum origin provides stronger security against brute force attacks and future quantum computing decryption. Tailoring QRNG generation and integration focuses on the performance, cost, and deployment constraints of grid-wide encryption hardening. The optimized approach aims to maximize randomness while minimizing complexity. By hardening cryptography via readily available quantum key generation, the QRNG integration delivers indispensable security enhancement.
The rapid adoption of cloud infrastructures has intensified concerns regarding data confidentiality, integrity, and trust management, particularly in the presence of emerging quantum computing threats. Classical cryptographic mechanisms, which underpin most existing cloud security architectures, are increasingly vulnerable to quantum attacks capable of compromising public-key encryption and key exchange protocols. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a hybrid security framework that integrates Quantum Cryptography with Blockchain technology to achieve robust, future-resistant data protection in cloud environments. The proposed framework leverages Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to enable provably secure key generation and exchange based on quantum mechanical principles, ensuring resistance against eavesdropping and computational attacks. Blockchain technology is employed to provide decentralized trust, immutable audit trails, and transparent access control across distributed cloud services. Smart contracts enforce fine-grained security policies, automate authentication, and ensure tamper-proof data access logging. The synergy between quantum cryptography and blockchain establishes a secure key lifecycle, resilient identity management, and verifiable data integrity within multi-tenant cloud infrastructures. Comprehensive security analysis demonstrates that the proposed approach effectively mitigates quantum-enabled attacks, insider threats, and single-point-of-failure vulnerabilities commonly found in traditional cloud security models. Experimental evaluation and comparative analysis highlight improvements in data integrity assurance, key management robustness, and trust transparency, with acceptable computational and communication overhead. The results indicate that integrating quantum cryptography with blockchain presents a scalable and future-proof security paradigm for next-generation cloud infrastructures.
The smart grid (SG) embodies the future of power systems, featuring self-healing mechanisms, adaptability, and sustainability. Nevertheless, its interconnected and widely distributed architecture presents substantial cybersecurity challenges, rendering it susceptible to cyber attacks that may cause outages, infrastructure failures, and data breaches, including the exposure of personal information. Public-key cryptography (PKC) has historically been utilized to ensure confidentiality, authenticate devices, and maintain data integrity. However, the rise of quantum computing poses a serious threat to the viability of these PKC algorithms, particularly with the potential implementation of algorithms such as Shor’s algorithm. To address these vulnerabilities, we propose an innovative security protocol for post-quantum communication within SG applications, engineered to resist both classical and quantum threats. Our comparative study reveals that this protocol delivers enhanced security and improved functionality while maintaining low communication and computational costs compared to existing methods. We further demonstrate its practicality through real-time testbed experiments and implementations on a Raspberry Pi, supported by an extensive security assessment using the Scyther automated validation tool. A detailed comparison with Kyber in terms of computational efficiency, storage requirements, and implementation overhead to support our lightweight claim. Finally, a network simulation conducted using Network Simulator 3 (NS3) further demonstrates the performance of the proposed scheme, highlighting its scalability and reliability.
The widespread cryptographic methods RSA and AES have become more susceptible to quantum-based attacks because researchers developed quantum algorithms such as Shor's and Grover's. QKD chromosomes from quantum mechanics grant authorized parties the ability to exchange cryptographic keys securely alongside built-in eavesdropping detection functionality. In the proposed method a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is used to integrate into cloud environments to secure data against quantum threats which have become crucial security concerns today. A new security framework for combining QKD with standard cloud utilities strengthens both access privacy and verify data integrity and ensure authentication of user information. The system framework consists of key generation from quantum elements followed by distribution through quantum channels to support secure communication protocols for Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) as well as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). The key performance evaluation of the QKD system includes measurements of key generation rate together with Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) and eavesdropping detection accuracy rates. The analysis against traditional cryptographic systems proves that QKD stands superior in quantum attack resilience. The proposed system demonstrates its efficiency and robustness through simulation outcomes as well as visual representations. The presented work demonstrates both the revolutionary capability of quantum technology for cloud security along with a deployable system architecture for future systems implementation. The research work advances the creation of cloud infrastructure systems which combine high security resilience to protect against future cyber threats.
This paper presents an enhanced Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) protocol to strengthen the security of smart grid systems through secure communication and signature verification. As smart grids increasingly depend on digital communication, safeguarding them against cyber threats is paramount. Our approach incorporates Hadamard, SWAP, and rotation gates to fortify the BB84 protocol, ensuring secure key exchange while verifying the integrity and authenticity of transmitted data between smart meters and grid operators. Experimental results demonstrate that the protocol provides efficient key generation, encryption, and decryption while improving eavesdropping detection. With 10 qubits, the protocol achieved a key generation rate of 957 bits and successfully encrypted messages. These findings suggest that QKD offers a robust security framework for smart grid environments, providing superior resistance to both quantum and classical attacks.
Recent developments in quantum-enhanced security have demonstrated encouraging promise for enhancing cloud computing environments' security. Utilizing quantum physics, in particular Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), provides a new method for generating cryptographic keys and improves cloud data transport security. The present study offers a thorough investigation of the integration of QKD with conventional encryption techniques, including Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), in order to tackle the dynamic cyber security scenario in cloud computing. The approach entails combining AES for encryption and decryption procedures and establishing a QKD layer within the cloud architecture to produce true quantum keys utilizing Quantum in Cloud technology. Data transmission security is greatly improved by the smooth integration of AES with QKD-generated keys, guaranteeing confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity. In addition, strong key management practices are put in place to handle cryptographic keys safely at every stage of their lifespan, reducing the possibility of unwanted access or interception. The suggested approach successfully addresses the difficulties presented by cyber threats by offering a robust and flexible means of enhancing security in cloud-based systems. Using both traditional and quantum encryption methods, this strategy provides a strong barrier against cyber-attacks, data leaks, and other security flaws. After 70 simulation rounds, the suggested strategy, which is implemented using the QKD-AES framework in Python software, achieved a data access rate of 820 MB/s. In addition to providing an accurate and quantitative assessment of the performance, this also exhibits a high data access rate attained under simulated conditions. At 15 milliseconds, the key generation time was achieved with efficiency, guaranteeing the quick creation of secure cryptographic keys in cloud environments. Overall, there is a lot of potential in using quantum-enhanced security techniques to protect sensitive data and guarantee the integrity of cloud computing infrastructures.