The MIPS ARC® Secure option enables the encrypted-pipeline feature of the ARC 600 Family of processor cores, allowing the processors to run encrypted code by fetching encrypted instructions and decrypting them on-the-fly when needed. The feature enables instruction data to remain encrypted in on-chip or off-chip memory, thereby keeping it secure even if memory security is compromised. This makes it significantly more difficult for an attacker to understand the nature of processor activities by snooping on its state or its state changes.
With ARC Secure, the SoC supplier can implement their own select encryption and decryption algorithms, which enables them to encrypt applications before loading them into memory. While this capability can be delivered through “brute force” with large and expensive co-processors or with a dedicated engine, with ARC Secure it is enabled with a marginal (as little as 2%) area, power and performance impact.
Highlights & Key Features
- Protects user code from potential intruders, protects application from hackers and thieves
- Performs on-the-fly decryption and re-encryption of code with minimal performance, area and power impact
- Encryption algorithm is fully under user control
- Protects against state-change snooping
- Can be used in conjunction with other configuration options to further obfuscate attackers
- Area impact measured as low as <1% on ARC 601 core
- Maximum frequency reduced by 2%; power at a set frequency increased by only 2% for the processor core
Product Details
| Description | Optional secure pipeline feature for ARC 600 family of processors |
| Name | dw_arc600_secure |
| Version | 4.9b |
| ECCN | 3E991/NLR |
| STARs | Open and/or Closed STARs |
| myDesignWare | Subscribe for Notifications |
| Product Type | DesignWare Cores |
| Documentation | Show Documents Hide Documents White PaperRight-Sizing Your Cryptographic Processing Solution ( PDF ) |
| Toolsets | Qualified Toolsets |
| Download | dw_arc600_secure |
| Product Code | 8022-0, 8023-0, 8024-0, 8025-0, 8045-0, 8046-0, 9839-0 |