Trustworthy and secure semiconductors and systems

DURHAM, USA: Semiconductor-based electronics are more pervasive and more networked-making systems "smarter" and more functional.

But our growing reliance upon such systems also makes us vulnerable if they fail, whether due to an unintended flaw or to malicious tampering or attack. It is imperative that semiconductors provide a secure foundation for our digital, networked world.

That imperative is the focus of a recent report, Research Needs for Secure, Trustworthy, and Reliable Semiconductors.

Based on a 2013 workshop, the report identifies several key needs under the overarching theme of "Design for Security"-defining security properties; strengthening specification and verification, especially at architecture levels; improving authentication techniques; and developing security metrics.

In order to meet these needs, industry, academia, and government must collaborate.

Semiconductor Research Corp. (SRC) is leading an initiative on Trustworthy and Secure Semiconductors and Systems (T3S) that aims to address hardware-oriented security research priorities in partnership with government agencies.

The initiative is open to all interested companies and government partners.