Highly integrated, single-chip security solutions offer simple implementation

The highly integrated MAX36010 and MAX36011 single-chip security supervisors from Maxim Integrated Products offer security solutions to make it easier for designers to execute robust tamper detection, cryptography and secure storage while protecting sensitive information via logical and physical protections, with no need to be security experts themselves. The devices both provide strong security that can be simply integrated into a design at any stage of its development. Also, if these parts are combined later in the design cycle, there is no need to modify the platform to accommodate them, thereby simplifying the implementation process. Compared to competitive solutions, it is possible to facilitate a 60% faster design cycle, while also reducing BOM costs by 20%. To assure a higher level of security, these supervisors generate keys via a TRNG. The keys are then deposited in battery-backed RAM along with certificates and other sensitive data. This data is deleted when tampering is detected, an ability that meets the requirements of FIPS Publication 140-2 at its highest security levels (Levels 3 and 4). “IoT devices have now become commonplace in consumer households, which store personal and sensitive data related to the user’s day-to-day activities. While IoT designers have security top of mind, they are not always experts in this area,” said Stella Or, product definer for the Micros, Security and Software Group at Maxim Integrated. “Many of Maxim’s customers find that the MAX36010 and MAX36011 are both very easy to integrate in their design and most importantly, fulfil their security requirements, especially customers looking to design devices that meet the highest level of security and offer FIPS140-2 certification.” “The exponential growth of IoT devices will continue on its upward trend and is predicted to jump an average of 12 per cent per year from 27.8 billion units in 2017 to over 135 billion units in 2030,” said Julian Watson, senior principal analyst IoT Connectivity at IHS Markit. “More IoT devices in the market mean that more of consumers’ personal data is at risk and designers of these devices need to be responsible for ensuring that the IoT ecosystem is genuinely safe and secure for users.”