Alif Semiconductor’s Innovative and Novel Architecture Sets the Bar for Security to New Heights in Deployed Edge Products
Alif Semiconductor, a leading supplier of power-efficient Edge AI-enabled secure MCUs and fusion processors, has unveiled its advanced on-chip security solution. The company’s groundbreaking security architecture incorporates various cutting-edge technologies, including an integrated Secure Enclave, a highly configurable secure firewall structure, secure communication between cores, and in-factory creation of unique device key pairs. These measures ensure the highest level of security for the next generation of Edge devices powered by advanced processing technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
At the heart of this security solution is the Secure Enclave, which is integrated into every device in Alif Semiconductor’s Ensemble family. The Secure Enclave is a dedicated subsystem that manages critical security functions such as secure key management and storage, secure boot with an immutable Root-of-Trust, attestation, hardware cryptographic services, and secure debugging. It also enables secure firmware updates, power management, and complete lifecycle management. With these features, the Secure Enclave establishes a solid foundation of trust, ensuring the integrity and security of the entire system.
One of the key highlights of Alif Semiconductor’s security solution is the creation of unique device key pairs within every device during the manufacturing process. This eliminates the need for external equipment, such as a Hardware Security Module (HSM), to inject the keys. By design, every device and every customer can establish a chain of trust from the network to the device without the complexities and risks associated with third-party dependencies. This approach not only enhances security but also reduces costs and eliminates potential vulnerabilities.
Alif Semiconductor’s Ensemble family offers a wide range of devices, from single-core to multi-core devices. These devices combine Cortex-M55 MCU cores, Cortex-A32 microprocessor cores capable of running high-level operating systems, and Ethos-U55 microNPUs for AI/ML acceleration. The Secure Enclave’s unique firewall mechanism allows developers to allocate memory and peripherals for each CPU core, either shared or separated. This level of flexibility ensures a high level of system security by enabling durable separation of resources between multiple processing subsystems and secure operations.
Furthermore, the Secure Enclave always boots from a known good ROM image, which enables it to validate the integrity of the system before executing any code on the application cores. This additional layer of security prevents malicious interference and ensures the overall security of the device.
For Alif Semiconductor’s customers, this innovative security solution offers affordable and robust security measures. The Ensemble devices provide comprehensive security measures within the chip itself, eliminating the need for additional secure MCUs or third-party HSM services. This not only reduces costs but also streamlines the manufacturing process and improves overall security.
The Secure Enclave’s lifecycle management capabilities ensure a one-way progress throughout the life cycle of the chip and the end-product. It prevents cloning, rollbacks, malware, and IP theft, significantly enhancing the security of deployed devices.
Alif Semiconductor’s proactive approach to security aligns with industry standards, including IEC 62443, IEC/ISO 27001, ISA/SAE 21434, and OWASP. By adhering to these standards, Alif Semiconductor ensures that its customers have a comprehensive security posture for their applications and deployments, providing renewable security and defense in-depth.
To learn more about Alif Semiconductor’s advanced security architecture and discuss your security needs, visit their website at alifsemi.com.
About Alif Semiconductor
Founded in 2019, Alif Semiconductor is a leading provider of power-efficient embedded computing solutions. The company specializes in fusion processors, unlocking innovative low-power techniques, unparalleled functional integration, accelerated AI and ML edge processing, high security, and operating system diversity. With a vision to address the growing market need for connected AI-enabled solutions, Alif Semiconductor is at the forefront of delivering cutting-edge technology for everyday life.
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2314552/Alif_Semiconductor.jpg
