A parallel architecture for secure FPGA symmetric encryption

E. J. Swankoski, R. R. Brooks, V. Narayanan, M. Kandemir, M. J. Irwin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cryptographic algorithms are at the heart of secure systems worldwide, providing encryption for millions of sensitive financial, government, and private transactions daily. Reconfigurable computing platforms like FPGAs provide a relatively low-cost, high-performance method of implementing cryptographic primitives. Several standard algorithms are used: the DES, 3DES, and AES algorithms. Conventional high-performance architectures utilize loop-unrolled approaches where internal hardware functions are duplicated. We propose a parallel architecture in which internal hardware functionality is not duplicated but reused. This creates a reasonably compact single block, which is ideal for duplication. This allows multiple users to share the same hardware, as spatial isolation is achieved by the physical separation of individual encryption blocks. Also, this allows for a greater degree of scalability, and system throughput becomes limited only by available physical resources and available I/O resources. We conclude that this parallel encryption architecture allows for comparable performance compared to conventional pipelined architectures with greater flexibility and hardware efficiency. We show that a pipelined encryption system cannot be used in a physically secure environment as it does not protect the keys adequately. Temporal isolation of the key is achieved using the parallel architecture. Indirect key storage is accomplished using principles of controlled physical random functions, which make all key values fully transient and never hardware-resident. Thus the parallel architecture achieves a high level of physical and design security within the FPGA, protecting the key from both invasive and non-invasive physical attacks.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings - 18th International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium, IPDPS 2004 (Abstracts and CD-ROM)
Pages1803-1810
Number of pages8
StatePublished - 2004
EventProceedings - 18th International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium, IPDPS 2004 (Abstracts and CD-ROM) - Santa Fe, NM, United States
Duration: Apr 26 2004Apr 30 2004

Publication series

NameProceedings - International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium, IPDPS 2004 (Abstracts and CD-ROM)
Volume18

Other

OtherProceedings - 18th International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium, IPDPS 2004 (Abstracts and CD-ROM)
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySanta Fe, NM
Period4/26/044/30/04

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering

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