Optimizing AES Implementation for High-Speed Embedded Application

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Date

2008-02

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Rijndael is adopted as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) by the American’s National Institute of Standards and Technology since 2001. AES algorithm has a wide area of application for its good security, simple design and ease of implementation on hardware and software. A Monte Carlo Test (MCT) vector is released with AES algorithm submission to check correctness of implementations. Besides to its defined purpose, MCT is used to measure speed of execution. Very important information flows through conventional communication systems like telephone, fax and radio. In such systems, cryptographic solutions can be implemented using embedded systems. ARM is the most common embedded system processor. The challenge is to run cryptography algorithms that are computationally intensive in nature on an embedded platform with an inherent resource limitation. In this thesis, AES implementation is optimized for speed of execution on an ARM powered embedded platform. It starts by comparison of available approaches to implement for a better speed performance. Then, Key features of the ARM processor are studied and exploited on the implementation to enhance speed of execution of the algorithm. The encryption has shown a remarkable improvement than the decryption. This is because of the design complexity on AES decryption algorithm. For the communication flow control problem that might be caused by the speed imbalance of encryption and decryption, a counter mode of operation is recommended.

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Keywords

Optimizing AES

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