Hardware Cryptography Key Management With Tamper Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software-based cryptography systems for encrypting and decrypting critical data are vulnerable to attacks, compromising the security of information.
Innovation Solution
A hardware-based cryptography system implemented on Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) and Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) with components like a key memory, cryptography unit, and tamper controller, ensuring secure encryption and decryption without software intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If software-based cryptography systems are used for encryption and decryption, then ease of operation is improved, but security reliability deteriorates due to vulnerability to attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces software-based cryptography with a hardware-based cryptography system implemented on FPGA or ASIC. The cryptography unit is implemented as hardwired logic circuits that perform encryption and decryption operations, eliminating the software vulnerability while maintaining operational functionality through hardware-enforced cryptographic protocols
2Reliability
If hardware-based cryptography system is implemented on FPGA or ASIC, then security reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cryptography system is segmented into distinct functional units: a cryptography unit for encryption/decryption, a key management unit for key storage and generation, and a tamper detection unit for security monitoring. Each unit is implemented as separate hardwired logic modules, which organizes the complexity into manageable, independent components while maintaining overall system security
Solution Approach 2:
The cryptography unit is designed as a multi-functional hardware component that can perform multiple cryptographic operations (encryption, decryption, key generation) within a single integrated circuit. This universal design reduces overall device complexity by consolidating multiple cryptographic functions into one hardware module rather than requiring separate dedicated circuits for each function
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cryptography keys are stored in key memory, then adaptability is improved, but loss of information increases due to potential key compromise
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper detection unit continuously monitors for unauthorized access or physical manipulation of the key memory and cryptography unit. When tamper conditions are detected, the system proactively erases stored cryptography keys before they can be compromised by attackers, preventing information loss while maintaining the ability to store multiple keys for adaptive use
4Reliability
If tamper detection and key erasure functionality is added, then security reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper detection functionality is merged with the existing cryptography unit and key management system. The same hardware circuits that handle cryptographic operations also monitor for tamper conditions, and the key erasure function is integrated into the key management unit. This consolidation reduces overall device complexity by combining multiple security functions into existing hardware modules rather than adding separate dedicated circuits
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a data processing apparatus (104) including a key memory (123) to store a list of cryptography keys, a key USB subunit (132) to enable receiving one or more cryptography keys from a user to generate an updated list of cryptography keys, a cryptography unit (122) to encrypt first data to generate second data based on a cryptography key randomly selected from the updated list of cryptography keys, and decrypt the second data to generate the first data, based on the key, and a USB subunit (130) to enable exchange of the first data between a first external device (104) and the cryptography unit (122), and the second data between a second external device (106) and the cryptography unit (122). The data processing apparatus (102) is implemented on at least one of, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs).