Securing IEEE 1588 messages with message authentication codes based on the KECCAK cryptographic algorithm implemented in FPGAs

Having a common sense of time is a key factor for many Smart Grid functions, such as the Sampled-Value (SV) process bus operation. The IEC 61850 family of standards recommends the Precision Time Protocol (PTP) for substation communication networks. This protocol allows accuracies in the nanoseconds range using conventional Ethernet networks. But security is only defined as an optional extension and presents several vulnerabilities. In particular, the cryptographic algorithms specified in the standard are suboptimal due to latency and area cost and hence, in this paper, the implementation of the new SHA-3 based MAC in programmable devices is proposed to improve the impact of security on PTP performance.