Enhanced security features for Commodity Integrated Circuits

Integrated Circuits in sensitive defense systems need to address the consequences of diverse and constantly evolving security threats from out-sourced overseas foundries, globalized supply chains, hostile operating environments and, furthermore, must be resistant to high levels of radiation exposure. In our Phase I SBIR effort we investigated: (a) devising a testing methodology to assess how susceptible PUF circuits are, indeed, to high levels of radiation exposure; and (b) defined specific use-case scenarios in which Physical Unclonable Functions in ICs could be applied to build radiation-hardened anti-tamper components in foreign fabrication facilities in ways that safeguard against an adversary securing critical technology. A test methodology that measures PUF characteristics such as intra-chip and inter-chip variation has been devised, and several use-case scenarios have been identified. This Phase II proposal extends the effort to conduct radiation testing and authentication of PUF technology in ASIC devices and plan for the technology transition to commercial and DoD markets by identifying specific platforms. ICs in defense applications that PUFs can be used for security are: Authentication: Hardware Data Prevention of IP Theft Substitution Sensitive Data Leakage Radiation Resistance Radiation: Radiation from anticipated military applications or from an attacking adversary could cause a cryptographic function either to fail or, conversely, reveal sensitive data and/or or cryptographic keys. Design and test for radiation, however, involves specialized expertise & equipment not commonly found in commercial fabrication processes & facilities.