Hardware Intrinsic Security
Intrinsic-ID hardware security products and services are based on a new approach to secure key storage called hardware intrinsic security, or HIS. HIS systems are based on physically unclonable functions, or PUFs. A PUF is a physical structure on a device that is very hard to clone due to inherent, device-unique, deep-submicron manufacturing process variations. Using PUFs, HIS systems generate the key only when needed, with no key stored. Some HIS systems, such as the Intrinsic-ID HIS products, eliminate the need for technology-dependent process options and can provide key storage in specific applications without embedded non-volatile memory (NVM).
Intrinsic-ID PUFs
PUFs are widely recognized as an important new security primitive. HIS is based on the powerful insight that intrinsic properties of a device can be used as a PUF, which makes secure and cost-effective systems possible. Using this insight, Intrinsic-ID has developed a new, patented approach to using PUFs to secure electronic devices.
Intrinsic-ID PUFs are based on memory technology and their unique properties and rigorously tested reliability enable Intrinsic-ID to provide secure, cost-effective and reliable key storage without storing a key.
Production-Proven Reliability
Two classes of PUFs can be used in HIS systems: those based on specific circuitry and those based on standard, available components. PUFs based on specific circuitry work well in carefully controlled experimental environments, but face significant challenges that limit their commercial viability. These PUFs require costly and time-consuming test silicon and can be incompatible with commercial tool-flows. PUFs based on standard, available components, on the other hand, do not require test silicon and are easily integrated into standard ASIC flows, making them far more suitable for commercial applications.
Intrinsic-ID PUFs are memory-based, and have been confirmed to behave in a predictable manner under all relevant stress conditions, including aging, and temperature and voltage variations.
The rigorous Intrinsic-ID product-quality release procedure includes accelerated lifetime tests that replicate the effects of decades of aging. This unique quality testing procedure of continuous, fully automated stressing in Philips labs makes use of state-of-the-art, certified test facilities.
Intrinsic-ID solutions have been implemented in production silicon and proven to perform under commercial conditions.
