Memory IP adds secure dimension

Supported by Certicom's KeyInject infrastructure, XPM Xtend automates and secures manufacturing of HDCP keyed chips.

Certicom Corp and Kilopass Technology have collaborated in the development of a novel embedded key storage product.

The solution interoperates with Certicom's KeyInject technology to automate key logistics, diminish liability, improve tracking and reduce costs related to chip manufacturing and silicon testing of enhanced high-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP) keys.

Through this partnership and joint product agreement, the new Kilopass Extra Permanent Memory Xtend (XPM Xtend) licensable intellectual property will give Kilopass customers a secure memory solution made specifically for protecting HDCP keys.

Supported by Certicom's KeyInject infrastructure, XPM Xtend automates and secures manufacturing of HDCP keyed chips.

This solution has become increasingly important given the growing number of extremely expensive security breach penalties involving HDTVs, recording and playback devices and the manufacturing processes that create these products.

Today, HDCP licensees, such as manufacturers of HDMI and DisplayPort products, face soaring liabilities for lost, stolen or vulnerable keys - approximately US $8 million for each HDCP key exposed.

For this very reason, companies who license HDCP keys are re-evaluating whether an in-house key management system provides sufficient protection.

"There are many challenges that organisations face concerning the secure manufacturing of chips that use HDCP keys".

"Quite often, security breaches are perpetrated by inside employees, making this a real problem for any HDCP licensee", says Bernard Crotty, President and CEO of Certicom.

"With the proliferation of high-definition content, the issue of content protection is clearly on the rise".

"We are pleased that Kilopass has partnered with us to offer cost-effective, end-to-end security for their customers through their XPM Xtend solution".

Powered by Certicom KeyInject, Kilopass XPM Xtend keeps all keys private - from company headquarters down to the chips manufactured worldwide.

KeyInject encrypts keys using industry-standard protocols and techniques based on elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) and the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), so that it's possible to secure HDCP chips during production by controlling access to keying information.

Now, with Certicom's KeyInject technology embedded in XPM Xtend, Kilopass customers will benefit from an additional level of security not available previously.

XPM Xtend provides protection against key theft, human error or flaws in cryptographic designs and implementation.

"There's no doubt that intellectual property theft can be very costly if a device, system or manufacturing process is breached".

"By leveraging Certicom's KeyInject technology in our XPM Xtend solution, we are able to offer the highest, most trusted security available for our customers' keys", says Bernie Aronson, CEO of Kilopass.

"Our partnership with Certicom ensures that our customers can securely and cost-effectively manufacture HDCP-enabled chips".

Working closely, Certicom and Kilopass provide a secure path for sensitive cryptographic keys directly from the licensor of the key through to the target device.

Keys that are unique to individual devices need both a secure NVM storage technology and a solution that protects these keys throughout the manufacturing supply chain.

Combined, KeyInject and XPM Xtend provide security for modern semiconductor manufacturing processes as well as at the device level with physical layer security that protects key information inside the target device.

XPM Xtend is supported for mainstream TSMC process technologies between 180 and 65nm today.

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