Comparative Performance Analysis of Lightweight Block Cipher Algorithms: From Single Core to Multicore

Lightweight block encryption algorithms, such as PRESENT, KEILN, and LED, are pivotal in securing resource-constrained devices and small-scale systems relevance for environments with limited computational resources. This work presents a performance comparison in execution time, memory usage, and implementations in single-core and multicore systems. Our approach involves executing encryption for fixed text file sizes in single-mode and multicore-mode processing. The implemented Multicore technique is notable for its efficient adjustment of text files with a fixed size, showcasing its adaptability. The evaluation criteria encompass the execution time of encryption and memory utilization, continually showcasing the performance analysis of algorithms prioritizing lightweight encryption. These algorithms exhibit significant improvements while handling Multicore execution fixed text data files, which minimally impact encryption and decryption time. These values can be influenced by factors such as the encryption technique, file content, and system resources. We performed simulations using an Arduino Nano, which operates on an ATmega328P microcontroller as the principal device, and several microcontroller assessments within the IoT sector. This research additionally established additional measurements, covering energy utilization, security robustness, and attack resilience of three lightweight encryption methods. Our findings indicate that, in terms of various metrics, the LED approach appears to be the most effective algorithm in a single model. It has the quickest encryption time and uses the least amount of RAM.KEILN seems to be the best choice for applications where memory usage is critical because of its efficient use of resources. LEDs provide competitive speeds; however, a slight increase in memory usage is allowed. Because of its large memory requirements, PRESENT might not be as enticing even though it is reasonably quick. This paper will aid IoT developers in choosing a suitable platform and encryption method for creating a secure network, considering several resource constraint factors. It facilitates educated decision-making concerning algorithm choice, microcontroller selection, and optimization methodologies to attain the required equilibrium of performance, security, and resource utilization.