Abstract:
Counterfeits and compromised systems impact security in electronics, and many arise from intrusions in the supply chain during a chip’s lifecycle of design, manufacture, distribution, and field use. Microelectronic value chain security is an industry-wide issue that requires a holistic solution and collaboration among OEM, IC suppliers, foundries, assembly-test houses, contract manufacturers, and device distributors. A solution that enables such collaboration and coupled with Big Data analytics is essential to ensure manufacturing, supply and value chain security.
Mentor Graphics proposes a platform solution that enables tracking, authenticating, provisioning, and analyzing the use of chips in the value chain during their lifecycle. The solution uses a mix of hardware, protocols, and software to gather useful and reliable chip use data and to enable supply chain participants to monitor chip manufacturing and field use, analyze supply chain vulnerabilities, and mitigate security issues.
The proposed solution improves the security of the hardware supply chain. This supply chain security platform will enable the connection of SoCs to a Secure Server, track chips at each step in the value chain, and securely provision chip features in the field. As a result, the platform will enable IC suppliers and electronic device manufactures to minimize counterfeits and to offer new value-add services during the lifecycle of SoCs, services that were not possible except for the major IC suppliers. It will also offer provide better visibility of the SoC lifecycle from design through chip manufacturing to proliferation in the supply chain and decommissioning.