Case Study: Design Secure Communication Systems based on Intel Arria 10 SoCs

Secure communication devices face many design challenges in today’s rapidly expanding data security and applications landscape.

A wireline product must meet the aggressive demands for high bandwidth and throughput while providing a temper-resistant platform for cryptographic services. In contrast, the wireless product is developed under strict requirements, reducing size, weight, and power to enable next-generation mobility for military radios that support multiple waveforms simultaneously, including SRW, WNW, and MUOS.

iWave’s Intel product portfolio of low-power, low-cost devices with high-assurance capabilities and security features includes the Cyclone V FPGA/SoC System on Module and Arria 10 FPGA/SoC System on Module.

The Arria 10 FPGA /SoC SoM is power-packed with up to 660K logic elements and is compatible with different SoC series from SX270 to SX660. As a result, the SoM provides a high degree of flexibility and performance to the customer.

Enhanced digital signal processing (DSP) blocks and integrated ARM processors enable high-speed packet data processing and waveform processing on a single chip.

The Arria 10 System on Module features:

• Dual ARM® Cortex®-A9 @ 1.5GHz
• Up to 660K Logic Elements
• 32-bit, 2GB DDR4 with ECC for HPS
• Up to 64-bit, 4GB DDR4 for FPGA
• 24 x High-Speed transceivers @17.4Gbps
• Up to 189 User Configurable IOs
• Variable IO voltage support from PMIC
• Compatible SoC: SX270, SX320, SX480, SX570, SX660
• Compatible FPGA: GX270, GX320, GX480, GX570, GX660, GX900, GX1150

The Arria 10 platform combines general purpose processors, flexible logic, and streamlined hard logic blocks for protocol, DSP, and peripheral support, making it ideal for secure communication systems.

Additional features of Arria 10 SoC suitable for secure communication systems:

• Advanced security features: Supports bit-stream encryption & authentication, antitamper & anti-cloning features for Arria 10 SoC ARM Cortex-A9 processors.
• Advanced encryption standard (AES): Enhanced built-in advanced encryption standard & decryption block to support 256-bit industry-standard security algorithm.
• Qcrypt security tool: The qcrypt tool is a stand-alone encryption tool for encrypting and decrypting bit-stream files.
• Secure boot & code authentication: Protect the design’s intellectual property (through encryption) and prevent malicious software from running on the system (through authentication).
• Volatile & Non-volatile key programming: The Arria 10 SoC supports the secure operation of volatile & non-volatile key via tamper protection mode.

Cryptographic Capabilities

Strong encryption is essential to ensure communications and data security at high data throughput rates. Robust cryptographic algorithms implemented in FPGA provide the foundation for trusted information assurance systems.

Furthermore, Arria 10 FPGAs and SoCs follow strict data separation guidelines to provide both design and verification methodology to meet internal and external standards for data integrity and failsafe operation.

Sourcing Arria 10 FPGA/SoC SoM from iWave

With iWave, you can choose from an extensive range of ARM Systems on Modules and FPGA & SoC System on Modules to suit your application needs. iWave also offers extensive, feature-rich, ready-to-use development kits. Customers can now build quick prototypes to evaluate product-market fit and evaluate performance across different platforms.

For further information and queries, please write to mktg@iwavesystems.com.

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