High-Performance SHA-256-Based Request Signing: A Comparative Study of Standard and Custom Implementations
Session
Computer Science and Communication Engineering
Description
Ensuring data integrity in modern software integrations with third-party providers is critical for secure communication and reliable transaction processing. This study focuses on implementing SHA-256 hashing for verifying the authenticity and integrity of HTTP requests. Two approaches are analyzed: the built-in .NET SHA-256 implementation and a fully custom SHA-256 algorithm implemented from first principles. Both methods are evaluated for correctness, security, and performance. Experimental results demonstrate that the custom implementation achieves comparable security guarantees while offering improved execution speed and minimal memory usage. The findings highlight the relevance of SHA-256 in protecting data against tampering and its suitability for high-performance, security-sensitive applications. This research provides a practical reference for developers and researchers seeking reliable data integrity verification mechanisms in networked systems.
Keywords:
SHA-256, Data Integrity, Cryptographic Hash, Secure Communication, Performance Evaluation, Third-Party Integrations, C# Implementation
Proceedings Editor
Edmond Hajrizi
ISBN
978-9951-982-41-2
Location
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
Start Date
25-10-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
26-10-2025 6:00 PM
DOI
10.33107/ubt-ic.2025.95
Recommended Citation
Halimi, Gentrit; Pira, Rigon; and Azizi, Argjend, "High-Performance SHA-256-Based Request Signing: A Comparative Study of Standard and Custom Implementations" (2025). UBT International Conference. 27.
https://knowledgecenter.ubt-uni.net/conference/2025UBTIC/CS/27
High-Performance SHA-256-Based Request Signing: A Comparative Study of Standard and Custom Implementations
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
Ensuring data integrity in modern software integrations with third-party providers is critical for secure communication and reliable transaction processing. This study focuses on implementing SHA-256 hashing for verifying the authenticity and integrity of HTTP requests. Two approaches are analyzed: the built-in .NET SHA-256 implementation and a fully custom SHA-256 algorithm implemented from first principles. Both methods are evaluated for correctness, security, and performance. Experimental results demonstrate that the custom implementation achieves comparable security guarantees while offering improved execution speed and minimal memory usage. The findings highlight the relevance of SHA-256 in protecting data against tampering and its suitability for high-performance, security-sensitive applications. This research provides a practical reference for developers and researchers seeking reliable data integrity verification mechanisms in networked systems.