Key Encapsulation Mechanism-Based Integrated Encryption Scheme (KEM-IES)
For practitioners needing quantum-resistant encryption on embedded devices, this work offers a practical hybrid scheme, though it is incremental as it combines existing PQC and lightweight cryptography standards.
This paper proposes KEM-IES, a post-quantum integrated encryption scheme that replaces ECIES's key exchange with a PQC-based KEM and integrates the Ascon algorithm for efficiency. Implemented on a Raspberry Pi 4, it demonstrates improved resistance to quantum attacks while maintaining computational feasibility for embedded systems.
The Elliptic Curve Integrated Encryption Scheme (ECIES) is widely regarded as a practical method and has been adopted by multiple standards. However, the advancement of quantum computing technologies poses potential security risks to ECIES. Therefore, this study proposes a Key Encapsulation Mechanism-Based Integrated Encryption Scheme (KEM-IES), which enhances resistance to quantum attacks by incorporating a Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)-based Key Encapsulation Mechanism (KEM). Furthermore, the study integrates the Ascon algorithm, released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in August 2025, to further improve computational efficiency and enable applicability to embedded systems. The proposed KEM-IES and its Ascon-based variant are implemented on a Raspberry Pi 4, and evaluations are conducted to compare the performance of ECIES and KEM-IES.