Secure Integrated Circuits (ICs) in todays embedded and smart card systems provide a secure processing platform for highly secure application firmware. Synthesis between hardware and electronic countermeasures in todays secure ICs protects the integrity and confidentiality of the IC’s own platform internals as well as the design and operation of the application software. Evaluating the security quality of state-of-the-art secure ICs requires knowledge and practical experience in different disciplines including micro electronics design and design and manufacturing of integrated circuits. Above all, however, it requires deep understanding of the attack techniques that are available to threaten IC security.

We have a long history in evaluating the security of ICs, starting in the pioneering years of the 1980’s. Since then we have contributed to the maturity of different IC evaluation methods and techniques. We have demonstrated to the industry how ICs can be vulnerable to voltage manipulation, data leakage through contactless interfaces and light manipulation through means of high energy laser techniques, and we have supported manufacturers in finding appropriate countermeasures.