Cryptography IP refers to pre-designed, reusable hardware blocks that implement cryptographic algorithms and security protocols within integrated circuits (ICs), System-on-Chip (SoC), microcontrollers (MCUs), and FPGA-based systems. These IP blocks accelerate cryptographic operations, secure communications, protect data, and ensure the integrity and confidentiality of digital systems.
Cryptographic IP is a cornerstone of trusted computing, especially in applications involving secure boot, payment systems, digital rights management (DRM), embedded security, automotive ECUs, and edge AI devices.
Overview
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Purpose: Accelerate and securely execute cryptographic functions in hardware
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Used in: SoCs, ASICs, FPGAs, smartcards, trusted platform modules (TPMs)
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Form factors: Soft IP (RTL), hard IP (GDSII), or firmware-assisted co-processors
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Complies with: Standards like NIST, ISO, FIPS 140, PSA Certified, Common Criteria
Categories of Cryptography IP
1. Symmetric Cryptography
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Algorithms: AES, DES, Triple-DES, ChaCha20, SM4
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Use cases: Secure storage, VPNs, encrypted memory, disk encryption
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IP Examples:
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AES-128/256 cores (ECB, CBC, GCM modes)
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High-throughput AES pipeline cores (up to 100 Gbps+)
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Low-power, resource-constrained AES for IoT
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2. Asymmetric Cryptography
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Algorithms: RSA, ECC, Ed25519, ECDSA, ElGamal
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Use cases: Secure boot, digital signatures, TLS/SSL, blockchain wallets
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IP Examples:
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RSA up to 4096-bit key support
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ECC cores (NIST, Brainpool, Curve25519, SM2)
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Hardware accelerators for signature verification
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3. Hashing and Message Authentication
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Algorithms: SHA-1, SHA-2, SHA-3, HMAC, BLAKE2, SM3
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Use cases: Data integrity, password hashing, MACs, secure boot
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IP Examples:
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SHA-256/512 engines
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Keccak (SHA-3) implementations
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HMAC engines with pre-integrated keys
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4. Random Number Generators
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Types: TRNG (True Random Number Generator), DRBG (Deterministic RNG)
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Use cases: Key generation, entropy provisioning, nonces
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IP Examples:
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FIPS-compliant TRNGs based on ring oscillators, jitter
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Entropy mixing logic and health checks
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DRBGs (e.g., CTR_DRBG, HMAC_DRBG)
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5. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Acceleration
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Protocols: TLS, IPsec, IKE, DTLS, SSH, S/MIME
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IP Features:
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Modular exponentiation
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Elliptic curve point arithmetic
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Certificate parsing (in some high-level crypto cores)
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6. Post-Quantum Cryptography (Emerging)
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NIST PQC Candidates: CRYSTALS-Kyber, Dilithium, Falcon
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Use cases: Quantum-resilient authentication and encryption
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Status: IP vendors are beginning to offer PQC-ready cores or hybrid implementations
Security Standards Compliance
Standard | Purpose |
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FIPS 140-2/3 | U.S. government crypto module certification |
Common Criteria (CC) | Global product security evaluation |
ISO/IEC 18033 | International crypto algorithm standardization |
NIST SP 800 Series | Guidelines for RNG, crypto strength, and key management |
PSA Certified | IoT device security and crypto IP trustworthiness |
EMVCo / PCI | Secure payment system crypto compliance |
Vendors and Providers of Crypto IP
Vendor | Notable Crypto IP Features |
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Rambus | Full crypto suite including FIPS-compliant TRNGs, AES, RSA, ECC |
Synopsys | DesignWare cryptography accelerators, security subsystems |
Cadence | Crypto cores with low-latency MAC/ENC/DEC support |
Arctic Sand / Secure-IC | Hardware root of trust (RoT), tamper resistance |
Silex Insight | Flexible crypto IPs with secure key management |
CryptoQuantique | Quantum-driven secure entropy sources |
OpenTitan | Open-source root of trust including AES, SHA, HMAC, ECC |
SiFive | Secure RISC-V cores with crypto extensions |
Integration in SoCs and Secure Systems
Cryptographic IP is typically integrated in:
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Secure Subsystems: Hardware Root of Trust, Secure Enclave
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Trusted Execution Environments (TEE): e.g., Arm TrustZone, Keystone (RISC-V)
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Secure Boot Chains: From ROM code through verified OS launch
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IoT Devices: Device attestation, TLS/DTLS endpoints
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Automotive ECUs: Secure CAN, secure OTA updates
Design Considerations
Concern | Notes |
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Area and Power Trade-offs | Important in IoT and wearables |
Latency vs Throughput | TLS handshake vs real-time media encryption |
Side-Channel Resistance | Prevent timing, power, and EM attacks |
Secure Key Storage | Integration with PUFs, OTP, or secure SRAM |
Compliance Requirements | FIPS validation may restrict design flexibility |
Verification and Validation
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Functional Verification: Test against known-answer tests (KATs)
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Formal Verification: Applied to critical modules (e.g., RSA core)
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Security Testing:
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Fault injection resistance
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Differential power analysis (DPA) resistance
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Randomness quality for TRNGs (NIST SP 800-90B)
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Emerging Trends
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Post-Quantum Cryptography IP adoption (hybrid RSA+Kyber)
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Lightweight Crypto IPs for ultra-low-power SoCs (e.g., ASCON, SPECK)
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Crypto-as-a-Service using IP-managed secure enclaves
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Open-source crypto IPs under active development for RISC-V and edge platforms
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Hardware Security Modules (HSM) integration in edge and automotive SoCs
TSMC N3 Process Technology Wiki