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Memory Security Management for FPGA-based Embedded Systems
R. Vaslin, G. Goniat, J.-P. Diguet, R. Tessier, D. Unnikrishnan
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| As FPGA-based embedded systems are used in more diverse
environments, the need for system security becomes increasingly
critical. The constrained operating environments of many embedded
systems require flexible security that can be configured
to minimize the impact on FPGA area and power
consumption. In this paper we present a security approach for external
memory in FPGA-based embedded systems that exploits FPGA configurability.
Our FPGA-based security core provides both confidentiality
and integrity for data stored externally to an FPGA which is accessed
by a soft processor. Multiple applications can use the security core
simultaneously under the direction of a real-time operating system
implemented on the soft processor. The benefits of our security core are
demonstrated using four embedded applications implemented on a Stratix II device. Each application requires a
collection of tasks with varying memory security requirements.
Our security core is used in conjunction with a NIOS II soft processor
running the MicroC/OS II operating system. An average memory and energy savings of about 64\% and
16\%, respectively, is achieved for the four applications versus a non-configurable, uniform
security approach. |
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