LONDON, June 15, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imagination Technologies (IMG.L) and Intrinsic-ID are collaborating to bring even higher levels of security to products that use Imagination’s IP technologies. The first milestone is the availability of Intrinsic-ID’s leading security and authentication technology for Imagination’s MIPS M-class M5150 CPU that targets low-power applications such as M2M, IoT and embedded control. Intrinsic-ID’s Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) technology allows efficient implementation of security functions such as device authentication and anti-cloning on MIPS CPUs.

With growing connectivity across nearly every product category from consumer to automotive to industrial and beyond, security is an ever increasing challenge, and the massive amount of smart devices makes it harder to keep track of every single device. The industry needs a more secure and scalable approach towards device authentication, registration and lifecycle management.

Imagination’s OmniShield multi-domain security technology, which takes advantage of hardware virtualization technology built into its latest IP offerings, enables the creation of multiple secure domains on an SoC. Products that implement this powerful technology can run multiple, unmodified, isolated applications and operating systems independently and securely at the same time on a single, trusted platform. OmniShield-ready MIPS M5150 CPUs are the only MCU-class CPU IP cores built with hardware virtualization technology.

Intrinsic-ID’s PUF technology, called Hardware Intrinsic Security™ (HIS), extracts security keys and unique identifiers from the innate physical characteristics of semiconductors. The device-unique physical structure or ‘silicon fingerprint’ can be obtained from standard SRAM circuits, already in virtually all processor designs. With HIS, no keys need to be programmed or stored in the system and no keys are present when the device is off, which provides a high level of protection against hardware attacks.

A system with multiple domains enabled by Imagination’s OmniShield-ready MIPS CPUs, allows for the HIS key extraction and management functions to be implemented securely in software.

Says Jim Nicholas, EVP MIPS Processor IP, Imagination: “PUF technology is an important element of SoC security. Intrinsic-ID’s technology is used widely across governments and other highly secure markets. We’re delighted to bring this efficient technology to the many customers using MIPS M5150 CPUs. Imagination is forging a growing number of partnerships and creating new technologies organically – all to enable our customers to create highly secure products with our OmniShield-ready IP families.”

Pim Tuyls, CEO of Intrinsic-ID, says, “Chip vendors face a growing burden since they are responsible for programming all product keys used for device, user and data authentication. Since Intrinsic-ID’s PUF technology doesn’t require any change on the silicon, it can be deployed widely and inexpensively. Providing the highest security at the lowest cost, it is a natural choice for chip vendors. The multi-domain environment created by Imagination’s OmniShield technology combined with Intrinsic-ID’s PUF technology provides a differentiated security platform addressing challenges from key provisioning and authentication to root of trust and supply chain protection.”

Availability
Imagination’s OmniShield enabled MIPS CPUs are available now from Imagination. Contact info@imgtec.com for more information.

Intrinsic-ID’s PUF technology is available now from Intrinsic-ID. For more information on Intrinsic-ID’s PUF solution: www.intrinsic-id.com.

About MIPS M-class CPUs
MIPS M-class M5100/M5150 CPUs with integrated DSP and FPU engines deliver leading performance efficiency and a unique feature set for MCU and embedded markets including M2M, IoT and embedded control. The M5150 supports Linux class operating systems in addition to maintaining the real-time/low latency characteristics needed to run an RTOS on the same system. MIPS M-class CPUs deliver 2x higher DSP performance and higher overall performance/MHz versus the competition – with a free, industry-standard GCC compiler. These CPUs are the only MCU class CPUs with hardware virtualization technology, enabling multiple unmodified operating systems and applications to run independently and securely at the same time on a single, trusted platform. Designers can use this feature to develop systems that provide a secure path to deliver updates/downloads, and benefit from enhanced IP protection.

About Hardware Intrinsic Security™ (HIS)
Intrinsic-ID’s PUF security technology, called Hardware Intrinsic Security™ (HIS), enables a unique device fingerprint to be extracted from embedded SRAM for user, device and data authentication, or to derive an unclonable cryptographic root key. Its Quiddikey® product uses a device-unique authentication process to extract security keys and unique identifiers from the innate characteristics of the SRAM. Quiddikey guarantees the entropy of the key as well as a correct and secure key reconstruction under all circumstances. The PUF key is extracted from the chip and not externally programmed or stored; it is linked to the chip’s unique physical characteristics and inherently protected against cloning and tampering.

About Intrinsic-ID
Intrinsic-ID is the world leading embedded authentication company based on the unique and patented technology called SRAM Physical Unclonable Function or SRAM PUF.  Its solutions and products create a unique ID and cryptographically secure keys from the physical behaviour of the SRAM PUF.  This key is invisible to attackers, unique per device and can be leveraged to authenticate the chip, the data on the chip, the device and even the whole system. On top of this, Intrinsic-ID offers solutions to protect the supply chain. These range from tracking and monitoring chips and devices (even in the case of remote contract manufacturers) to low cost, centralized key provisioning and protection against counterfeiting and overbuilding. Due to its simplicity, these products can be applied to all modern chips, microcontrollers and CPUs without making a change to the hardware. Currently this technology is being used by its customers in the field to protect the most sensitive payment, content, sensor and government data and systems.

Learn more at www.intrinsic-id.com or follow us on Twitter via @IntrinsicID or contact us at info@intrinsic-id.com.

About Imagination Technologies
Imagination is a global technology leader whose products touch the lives of billions of people across the globe. The company’s broad range of silicon IP (intellectual property) includes the key processing blocks needed to create the SoCs (Systems on Chips) that power all mobile, consumer and embedded electronics. Its unique software IP, infrastructure technologies and system solutions enable its customers to get to market quickly with complete and highly differentiated SoC platforms. Imagination’s licensees include many of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers, network operators and OEMs/ODMs who are creating some of the world’s most iconic products. See: www.imgtec.com.

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Imagination Technologies, MIPS, and the Imagination Technologies logo are trademarks of Imagination Technologies Limited and/or its affiliated group companies in the United Kingdom and/or other countries. All other logos, products, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Imagination Technologies’ Press Contacts:

UK: David Harold  
david.harold@imgtec.com  
+44 (0)1923 260 511

USA: Jen Bernier-Santarini         
jen.bernier@imgtec.com            
+1 408-530-5178

Intrinsic-ID Press Contact:

Boris Kennes    
boris.kennes@intrinsic-id.com   
+31 40 851 90 20