Introduction to hardware-oriented security for MPSoCs

Abstract

Novel applications demand computational resources that are provided by multiprocessor systems-on-chip (MPSoCs). At the same time, they increasingly process sensitive data and incorporate security-relevant functions like encryption or authentication. This paper discusses the implications of the MPSoC technology on security. It provides an overview of hardware-oriented techniques to enhance security (such as on-chip cryptographic key generation and hardware-supported software attestation), but also lists hardware-related threats and potential security loopholes, which designers of MPSoCs and MPSoC-based systems should be aware of.