QKD-Enhanced Attribute-Based Encryption for Secure and Access Control in Smart Grid Databases

The energy and power industry faces increasing data security challenges amidst its digital transformation. Databases, as the foundation of digital infrastructure, require advanced encryption techniques to safeguard sensitive information. This paper proposes a novel encryption framework, QKD-ABE, that integrates Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) with Attribute-Based Encryption (ABE) to enhance the confidentiality, integrity, and access control of power system data. QKD enables unconditional security in key distribution by leveraging quantum mechanics, effectively preventing key interception and tampering. ABE provides fine-grained access control by enforcing encryption policies based on user attributes, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access private data. The proposed scheme also demonstrates strong resistance to common security threats, including man-in-the-middle and eavesdropping attacks, through quantum measurement disturbance and Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBerr) verification. Experimental results and theoretical analysis indicate that QKD-ABE offers a secure, efficient, and scalable solution for protecting sensitive data in modern smart grid environments.