Date: 08/12/2010

MCU chip for smartcard and security ID card apps with layers and layers of protection

NXP Semiconductors has enhanced security algorithms used in electronic ID application chips applying its new architecture called IntegralSecurity. The new MCU family SmartMX2 based on IntegralSecurity targets id cards applications such as eGovernment, banking, PayTV, mobile transactions, public transport, access management and device authentication, where the key strength of this semiconductor device is to support handling multiple identification applications/tasks by single ID card/device.

NXP Semiconductor says major trend in identification today is the movement toward supporting multiple applications in a single secure smart card and in NFC-enabled mobile phones and quotes the examples of the new German national ID card, which can be used instead of a passport when traveling within Europe, and also facilitates secure online transactions. Another example is the Taiwan's Easy Card which unifies functions including public transport ticketing, micro-payments, event ticketing and student ID. Further, NFC-enabled phones will provide consumers with a wide range of applications that enhance user convenience and security.

"Today's market is no longer simply a case of applications within a vertical sector - instead we are increasingly looking at convergence between vertical markets. Already there is crossover between electronic identity and payment, as well as more development of infrastructure enabling both payments and transportation on a wider scale," said John Devlin, practice director, AutoID and Smart Cards, ABI Research. "In Russia, for example, the government is aiming to integrate national ID, social security, public transport and payments onto a single card. In addition to the increased complexity demanded of these solutions, the ability to fulfill multi-faceted security standards whilst remaining flexible and scalable is paramount."

"Multi-applications have been around for a few years, but so far the industry has been slow to fully embrace this trend due to the increasing complexity with each new generation of design," said Ruediger Stroh, executive vice president and general manager of Identification, NXP Semiconductors. "What the NXP SmartMX2 product brings is the groundbreaking IntegralSecurity architecture, as well as outstanding performance and a smooth path to implementation, to help our customers get to market faster and save both time and cost."

The security features available in these product families are:
Protect the user data and applications targeting CC EAL 6+ certification.
Over 100 dedicated security mechanisms with redundancy and multiple layers.
A hardened Fame2 crypto coprocessor with more DPA resilience
SmartMX2 includes the NXP-patented SecureFetch feature, which protects against light and laser attacks, and now covers data other than software code, as well as the NXP-patented GlueLogic feature for advanced protection against reverse-engineering attacks.

Features a re-engineered MMU (memory management unit) with firewalling capabilities for multi-application set-ups.
It is manufactured in advanced 0.09 µm CMOS technology with seven metal layers, providing further enhanced protection again reverse engineering and probing attacks, and creating a highly protective mesh of active and dynamic multi-threaded shielding.

SmartMX2 delivers CPU and crypto performance - on both contact and contactless interfaces - that is up to 5.7x faster than its highest performing SmartMX predecessor, while consuming less energy as claimed by NXP.
Enhanced memory options for ROM, RAM, EEPROM and FLASH, supports NXP's MIFARE technology - including MIFARE DESFire, MIFARE Plus and MIFARE Classic.

Editorial Product Rating: **** (Significant)