A Comprehensive Review of Optimization-Driven Design of Attribute-Based Encryption Schemes: Security Models, Optimization Techniques, and Emerging Computing Applications

International Journal on Advanced Computer Theory and Engineering, vol. 14, pp. 184–192

Abstract

Attribute-Based Encryption (ABE) has emerged as a powerful cryptographic primitive for enabling fine-grained access control in distributed and cloud computing environments. However, traditional ABE schemes suffer from high computational overhead, inefficient decryption processes, and scalability limitations. To address these challenges, optimization-driven design approaches have been introduced, integrating mathematical optimization techniques, lightweight cryptographic constructions, and efficient access structures. This systematic review analyses ABE schemes from 2018 to 2023, focusing on number-theoretic foundations, security models, and optimization techniques such as pairing reduction, lattice-based cryptography, outsourced decryption, and Boolean circuit optimization. The study further explores emerging applications in cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain systems, and edge computing environments. A total of 30 research studies are reviewed to identify key trends, including efficiency improvements through elliptic curve operations, revocation mechanisms, quantum-resistant constructions, and heuristic optimization of access policies. The findings indicate that while optimization techniques significantly improve performance, trade-offs remain between security strength, computational cost, and policy expressiveness. Future research directions include post-quantum ABE design, AI-driven optimization of access structures, and lightweight encryption mechanisms for resource-constrained devices.

Authors 3

1. Emily L. Thompson

   University of Manchester

   Affiliation as printed

   Professor, Department of Data Science, University of Manchester, United Kingdom

2. Karl Schneider Aachen Associate Professor School of Information Security

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Associate Professor, School of Information Security, RWTH Aachen University, Germany

3. Alexei Petrov

   St Petersburg University

   Affiliation as printed

   Senior Scientist, Department of Computational Systems, Saint Petersburg State University, Russia