Secure System Control and Management

Industrial Control,Communications,Data Center,Aerospace & Defense Application

Description

Implement comprehensive security from the ground up with Lattice's hardware security solution. Features include secure boot, firmware protection, and real-time system monitoring to protect against cyber threats in industrial, communications, and computing applications.

Core Advantages

Hardware Root of Trust PUF technology creates a unique, unclonable device fingerprint that is the foundation for all security operations. This hardware-based identity cannot be copied or counterfeited, providing strong protection against cloning attacks.

Comprehensive Cryptography Built-in hardware acceleration for AES-256 encryption/decryption, SHA-256 hashing, and ECDSA signature verification provides NIST-compliant cryptographic operations with high performance and low power.

Firmware Protection Platform firmware resiliency continuously monitors firmware integrity, detects unauthorized modifications, and automatically recovers to known-good firmware, protecting against persistent threats.

Recommended Bill of Materials (BOM)

Item	Part Number	Description	Quantity	Datasheet
1	Lattice Security FPGA (LFD4NX-100/LCMXO5-1200)	Security controller with root of trust	1	📄 Download
2	SPI Flash Memory	Secure firmware storage	1	📄 Download
3	Power Management IC	Voltage regulation	1	📄 Download
4	Host Processor	System CPU being protected	1	📄 Download

Applications

Secure boot and firmware authentication

Platform firmware resiliency (PFR)

Hardware root of trust implementation

Supply chain security

Real-time system monitoring

Technical Specifications

Security Features

PUF, AES-256, SHA-256, ECDSA, TRNG

Certification

Common Criteria EAL4+ (selected products)

Compliance

NIST SP 800-193 PFR

Secure Boot

Multi-stage authenticated boot

Update Mechanism

Signed firmware updates

Development Tool

Lattice Sentry + Diamond

Customer Success Stories

Data Center Equipment Vendor

| Server platform firmware protection

Challenge

Need to protect against firmware attacks and ensure supply chain security

Solution

Implemented Lattice Sentry PFR solution with LCMXO5-1200

Results

Achieved NIST 800-193 compliance, prevented firmware attacks, secured supply chain with device authentication

Telecommunications Provider

| 5G infrastructure security

Challenge

Critical infrastructure requiring highest security assurance

Solution

Deployed hardware root of trust using LFD4NX-100 with comprehensive security features

Results

Common Criteria EAL4+ certification achieved, robust protection against cyber threats, secure remote management

FAE Expert Insights

Senior FAE

Applications Engineer

10+ years

Professional Insights

Security implementations require a different approach than typical FPGA designs. The most critical insight: security is only as strong as the weakest link in the chain. I've seen customers implement strong encryption but neglect secure key storage, or have robust hardware but insecure firmware update mechanisms. Lattice's Sentry stack addresses these holistically. The PUF-based root of trust is genuinely unclonable - we've never seen a successful attack. For government and critical infrastructure projects, start the certification process early (Common Criteria can take 12-18 months). Key success factor: engage our security FAEs during architecture phase, not after design is complete. We can help you avoid common pitfalls like inadequate tamper detection or insufficient side-channel attack protection.

Key Takeaways

Security requires holistic implementation - no weak links
PUF provides genuinely unclonable device identity
Start certification process early for government projects
Engage security FAEs during architecture phase

Decision Framework

Security Solution Selection Framework

Steps:

Assess threat model and security requirements
Select appropriate certification level (EAL4+ if needed)
Plan secure manufacturing and key provisioning

Ready to Implement This Solution?

Contact our FAE team for design support and quotes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a hardware root of trust and why is it important?

A hardware root of trust is a security foundation built into hardware that provides a trusted starting point for all security operations. Lattice implements this using PUF (Physically Unclonable Function) technology that creates a unique, unclonable device identity. This is important because software-based security can be compromised, but hardware-based security provides a foundation that cannot be altered by software attacks.

How does platform firmware resiliency (PFR) work?

PFR continuously monitors system firmware for unauthorized modifications. When firmware corruption is detected, the system automatically recovers to a known-good state. The Lattice implementation uses hardware-based verification with cryptographic signatures to ensure firmware integrity. This protects against persistent threats that attempt to modify firmware for long-term system compromise.

What certifications do Lattice security solutions have?

Lattice security solutions have achieved Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level 4+ (EAL4+) certification for selected products. They also comply with NIST SP 800-193 Platform Firmware Resiliency guidelines and support FIPS 140-2 cryptographic module requirements. These certifications validate the robustness of Lattice security implementations for government and critical infrastructure use.

How are secure firmware updates implemented?

Secure firmware updates use cryptographic signatures to verify update authenticity before installation. The update process includes anti-rollback protection to prevent installation of older, potentially vulnerable firmware versions. Updates can be performed in the field while maintaining system security. Lattice provides tools and reference designs for implementing secure update mechanisms.

What is the difference between MachXO5-NX and Certus-NX for security applications?

MachXO5-NX is optimized for system management and control applications with instant-on capability, making it ideal for secure boot and platform protection. Certus-NX provides higher logic capacity and is suitable for applications requiring both security and significant processing capability. Both provide the same fundamental security features including PUF, encryption, and authentication.