FPGAs meet NSA guidelines
Microsemi says that this announcement, “ further validates Microsemi FPGA security capabilities [and] simplifies information sssurance system design.”
The company’s SmartFusion2 SoC FPGA and IGLOO2 FPGA product families are the first FPGAs to successfully complete the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) Information Assurance Directorate (IAD) Secure Implementation Guidelines (SIG) document.
The NSA IAD set out this process to provide an overview of design and data security features that are most relevant to a set of information assurance (IA) systems use models, and includes guidelines for security policies based on appropriate user scenarios. With clear implementation guidelines for using SmartFusion2 and IGLOO2 FPGA devices, defence system designers are better able to address and mitigate security threats in secure communications and cyber security applications.
The Department of Defense (DoD) has positioned SIGs as a key element in the Trusted Systems and Networks (TSN) strategy. SIG for FPGAs is a new process that the NSA IAD is deploying based on system architect and program management demand from secure communications and cyber security defence contractors.
Completion of the IAD SIG is part of Microsemi’s strategy to deliver the highest security solutions available today. This is an important validation of Microsemi’s FPGA solutions used by defence system designers; “It is a significant FPGA industry achievement that Microsemi is the first to complete the IAD Secure Implementation Guideline,” said Esam Elashmawi, Microsemi vice president and general manager, SoC Product Group. “The IAD SIG instills trust in our defence systems customers by validating our leading information assurance and anti-tamper security capabilities. It also reduces implementation risk as well as total cost of ownership when utilising the embedded security features available only in Microsemi’s SmartFusion2 and IGLOO2 FPGAs.”
Microsemi’s root-of-trust FPGA solutions are positioned for the growing needs of not only defence applications, but for communications and industrial applications which require a high standard for security and reliability. Microsemi claims to be the only vendor in the PLD industry to offer security for every aspect of the device lifecycle—from supply chain security, to IP protection, and acceleration of the design process by providing hardened cryptographic IP cores enabling security in the customer’s design.
Security features on SmartFusion2 and IGLOO2 FPGAs devices comprise:
(a) Supply chain security — Silicon biometrics, including Physically Unclonable Functions (PUFs) allow each device to be uniquely identified and cryptographically validated.
(b)Reduces the risk of counterfeiting, remarking and overbuilding.
(c) IP protection:
- AES 256 encrypted configuration files with SHA 256 based HMAC authentication;
- Processing is protected against Differential Power Analysis (DPA) with technology licensed from Cryptography Research Incorporated (CRI);
- Publickey cryptographic cores – Elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) for secure distribution of keys;
- True random number generators.
(d) Data security:
- Hardened cryptographic accelerators for use in the end application;
- Pass through CRI license enables royalty free development of DPA protected algorithms using techniques patented by CRI.
Customers are able to directly request a copy of the SIG via a secure portal on the IAD website or through their IAD program sponsor.
Microsemi; www.microsemi.com
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