Security and encryption are essential aspects of integrated circuit design, especially for memory and storage devices that store sensitive data. In this article, we will explore the current standards and protocols for integrated circuit design for security and encryption, and how they address the challenges and threats in this field.
Hardware security is the physical protection of integrated circuits from unauthorized access, tampering, or reverse engineering. This can be achieved through the use of Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) for authentication or encryption, anti-tamper mechanisms to detect or prevent physical attacks, and obfuscation techniques such as encryption, randomization, or dummy components to hide or disguise the hardware’s structure and functionality.
In a 2007 study conducted by an university of Illinois, they demonstrated that a mallicious hardware trojan can be implanted in a high- quality IC by adding a mere 1000-2000 extra logic gates. To compare, Any modern processor or IC contains millions of logic gates.
Encryption algorithms are mathematical methods of transforming data into an unreadable form, using a secret key. These algorithms can be divided into two categories: symmetric encryption, which uses the same key for both encryption and decryption (e.g. AES, DES, or RC4), and asymmetric encryption, which uses a pair of keys (e.g. RSA, ECC, or DH). The implementation of these algorithms can be done either in hardware or software, depending on the desired balance between performance, power consumption, and flexibility.
Encryption modes are ways of applying encryption algorithms to data, depending on the size and structure of the data. These modes can be divided into two categories: block encryption and stream encryption. Block encryption uses a block cipher, such as AES or DES, to encrypt data in fixed-size chunks, such as 128 bits or 256 bits. Stream encryption uses a stream cipher, such as RC4 or ChaCha20, to encrypt data in a continuous stream. The security and efficiency of the encryption process is affected by how the encryption mode handles the initialization vector, padding, and chaining of the data blocks or streams.
Key management is the process of generating, storing, distributing, and updating the keys used for encryption and decryption. It can be difficult to manage keys in integrated circuit design due to the limited resources and capabilities of the hardware devices. Key management includes key generation, which is the process of creating random and secure keys using sources of entropy such as PUFs or noise generators. Key storage involves storing them in a secure and accessible way using memory devices like ROM, EEPROM, or flash memory. Key distribution is the process of transferring the keys to intended recipients through communication protocols such as SSL/TLS, SSH, or NFC. Lastly, key update is changing the keys periodically or after an event like a breach or compromise.
Security protocols are sets of rules and procedures that govern the communication and interaction between different entities in a system, such as devices, servers, or users. These protocols can provide several functions, such as authentication by verifying the identity of the entities involved with passwords, certificates, or biometrics; authorization by granting or denying access to certain resources or operations based on roles and privileges; confidentiality by ensuring data exchanged is encrypted and protected from eavesdropping; and integrity by making sure data is not modified or corrupted during transmission or storage. To achieve these functions, security protocols may use methods such as access control lists, tokens, policies, encryption algorithms, encryption modes, key management, checksums, hashes, or digital signatures.
Security challenges and threats are the potential risks and vulnerabilities that can compromise the security and functionality of integrated circuits and their data. These can be divided into passive attacks, which involve attempts to observe or analyze the data or hardware without affecting them (e.g. snooping, sniffing, or side-channel analysis), and active attacks, which attempt to alter or manipulate the data or hardware (e.g. injection, modification, deletion, or physical damage). Countermeasures exist to mitigate these threats, such as encryption, obfuscation, anti-tamper mechanisms, or security protocols.