PUF-Based Secure Key Management for Continuum Computing

In the domain of continuum computing, managing security keys efficiently and securely is paramount due to the diverse range of devices involved, from resource-constrained edge devices to powerful cloud servers. This paper introduces an extended version of the Group-Key PHEMAP protocol, initially designed for IoT applications, tailored to the continuum computing environment. The protocol exploits Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) for lightweight and secure key generation, maintaining low computational and communication overheads. It supports dynamic group membership, allowing devices to join and leave the group seamlessly without the need for additional cryptographic keys. Performance evaluations are conducted using an advanced network simulator and prototype implementations on devices representative of continuum computing, confirming the protocol feasibility and robustness.