Semiconductor Security IP Wiki

Overview

Semiconductor Security IP consists of hardware-based intellectual property blocks designed to protect chips and systems against unauthorized access, tampering, counterfeiting, side-channel attacks, and data breaches. These IPs are embedded into SoCs, ASICs, FPGAs, and secure microcontrollers to provide robust, low-power, and low-latency security features.

Security IP plays a vital role in sectors like automotive, mobile, defense, IoT, data centers, and finance, where hardware trust, confidentiality, and integrity are paramount.

🔐 Categories of Security IP

Type	Function	Examples
Cryptographic Engines	Perform symmetric/asymmetric encryption and hashing	AES, SHA, RSA, ECC
True Random Number Generators (TRNGs)	Generate unpredictable values for cryptographic use	Thermal noise-based, jitter-based
PUF (Physically Unclonable Functions)	Silicon fingerprint for unique ID generation	SRAM PUF, RO PUF
Secure Boot	Validates firmware before execution	ROM-based roots of trust
Secure Key Storage	Isolates and encrypts keys within chip memory	E-fuse, OTP, battery-backed RAM
Side-Channel Attack Protection	Mitigates power/EM leakages	Differential Power Analysis (DPA) countermeasures
Tamper Detection IP	Detects voltage, frequency, or physical probing attacks	Active mesh, glitch detectors
Post-Quantum Cryptography IP	Quantum-resistant algorithms	Lattice-based, hash-based digital signatures
Secure Debug & JTAG Access	Prevents unauthorized device access during development	Lock/unlock sequences, challenge-response
Secure Element (SE)	Isolated processor/storage for payment, identity	Used in eSIM, biometric chips

🧠 Key Functions

Authentication: Ensures that devices or users are genuine.
Confidentiality: Prevents data exposure through strong encryption.
Integrity: Detects unauthorized data tampering.
Non-repudiation: Guarantees that a transaction was performed and logged.
Secure Lifecycle Management: Supports provisioning, personalization, and revocation.

🏭 Major Security IP Vendors

Vendor	Specialties
Rambus	Crypto cores, DPA-resistant IP, secure root-of-trust
Secure-IC	Embedded security subsystems, PUF, tamper detection
PQShield	Post-quantum cryptography IP cores
CryptoNext Security	Quantum-safe algorithms
eMemory / PUFsecurity	PUF-based hardware root-of-trust
Synopsys DesignWare	Security IP for SoCs and embedded devices
Cadence (Tensilica LX/Security Extensions)	Secure DSP and controller IP
Siemens EDA (Tessent Embedded Analytics)	Security monitors and access control
Imagination Technologies	Secure processing cores for GPU and AI workloads

🔎 Use Cases by Industry

Sector	Application
Automotive	Secure boot, OTA updates, EV charging, ADAS
IoT / Edge	Device identity, mutual authentication, encrypted data
Mobile	Trusted execution environments, fingerprint/biometric data protection
Data Centers	Hardware root of trust, encrypted storage, TPM functionality
Finance / eID	Secure elements in payment terminals, smart cards
Defense / Aerospace	Anti-tamper, secure communications, controlled access

🧪 Certification & Compliance

Standard	Purpose
FIPS 140-3	Cryptographic module validation (NIST)
Common Criteria (EAL levels)	Secure system evaluations (ISO 15408)
SESIP / PSA Certified	Security assurance for IoT chips
ISO/SAE 21434	Automotive cybersecurity
NIST PQC Standards	Post-quantum cryptography compliance

Many security IP vendors offer certified or certifiable IP cores with extensive documentation and test vectors.

📈 Emerging Trends

Trend	Description
Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)	IP cores implementing lattice-based cryptography (e.g., Kyber, Dilithium)
AI + Security	Integration of anomaly detection and adaptive cryptographic tuning
Secure Chiplets	Isolated security IP in chiplet designs (UCIe-compliant)
Zero Trust Architectures	Hardware-based enforcement of continuous authentication
Secure Boot in Open-Source Hardware	Growing need for trusted execution in RISC-V and FPGA platforms

🛠️ Design Considerations

Side-channel resistance: Design techniques such as masking, dual-rail logic
Latency: Must support high-speed encryption (e.g., real-time video streaming)
Power: Optimized for low-energy edge and wearable devices
Area footprint: Scalable from microcontrollers to high-end SoCs
Lifecycle management: Secure provisioning and revocation post-silicon