Customisable analog security IP deliverable with new clock attack monitor

Agile Analog has successfully delivered a comprehensive anti-tamper solution to a major fabless company in Taiwan. The team has delivered a selection of highly configurable multi-process analog security IP, including its new Clock Attack Monitor (agileCAM) and enhanced Voltage Glitch Detector (agileVGLITCH), and its Digital Temperature Sensor (agileTSENSE_D) and IR Drop Detector (agileIRDROP), to provide a data centre application with advanced tamper detection and prevention capabilities.

According to Chris Morrison, VP of Product Marketing: “At Agile Analog, we are leading the way in the security space with our customisable analogue anti-tampering IP. Our timing, voltage and temperature sensors, which detect potential security attacks by monitoring for suspicious behaviour, are becoming increasingly popular due to growing security threats across the globe. Demand is also being fuelled by the requirement for customers to address the latest security standards, including FIPS140-3 Level 3 and Common Criteria EAL 6+. We have novel technology to help our customers to contend with these evolving threats, with comprehensive anti-tamper solutions tailored to their specific needs.”

Morrison continues: “We are delighted to have delivered such a far-reaching anti-tamper solution to this customer, which includes our new clock attack monitor. Focusing on tamper detection and prevention is a key concern for many. Our highly configurable analog IP is truly unique in the market, allowing companies the opportunity to access security IP that fits their specifications on their chosen process.”

The UK company has a radically new approach, automatically creating analog IP to match a customer’s precise needs, for any foundry and on any process. These digitally wrapped and fully verified solutions for data conversion, power management, IC monitoring, security and always-on IP can be seamlessly incorporated into any SoC design. There are a vast array of use cases, including HPC, AI, IoT and security.

This anti-tamper solution delivery included the following customisable multi-process analog IP:

agileCAM: This new mixed-signal ring oscillator-based Clock Attack Monitor is designed to detect clock attacks involving changes in clock frequency, clock hold and clock glitch errors. It delivers frequency measurement with programmable alarm thresholds.

agileVGLITCH: This enhanced Voltage Glitch Detector provides protection against voltage side-channel attacks (SCAs) and tampering, with programmable glitch threshold levels and the ability to detect glitches with nanosecond resolution.

agileTSENSE_D: This temperature sensor with an integrated digitiser provides a digital output. The company’s unique temperature sensor architecture increases accuracy at a lower power than competing solutions. Temperature sensing is critical for detecting security attacks and optimising power, performance and area (PPA).

agileIRDROP: This IR Drop Sensor is useful for detecting loss of power or attacks on the power supply. It comprises a voltage reference and comparator(s) set at different threshold levels for multi-level detection.

Together these customisable analog IP products can deliver a comprehensive anti-tamper solution that monitors a device’s power supply, clock, and temperature for indications of a security attack.