A first proposal for secure data storage into DNA molecules compliant with biological constraints
Résumé
envisioned in 2025. To respond to associated storage needs, technologies as flash memory
and hard drives reach their limits in terms of: density; energy and ecological costs; durability
for long term storage. In this context, data storage on DNA molecules has recently been shown
as very promising. DNA storage could be 106 times more dense than hard drives, with a
lifetime 10 to 20 times longer and an energy consumption closed to zero (molecules can be
kept at room temperature with no maintenance).
In this work, we are interested in securing archived data. DNA storage being a new technology,
the opportunity presents itself to integrate this critical aspect at the biological level, contrarily
to what has been done for electronical storage means. In fact, information must be secured
at every step of the DNA data storage chain. Data integrity and confidentiality are among the
main issues with threats like data modification (e.g. writing of new data) or the theft of the
DNA storage support by an attacker. Herein, we propose a solution for writing encrypted data
onto synthetic DNA molecules considering DNA synthesis and the error-correction code
constraints. Indeed, DNA sequences should conform to structural constraints dictated by this
biological process and sequencing.