Fundamentals of FPGA Security Training by Tonex
FPGA security is a critical aspect of hardware security, and understanding the fundamentals of FPGA security training is essential for developing secure FPGA designs. It includes understanding FPGA architecture, security risks and threats, cryptography, secure boot and configuration, physical security, best practices, and FPGA security tools. Understanding these fundamentals is essential for developing secure FPGA designs.
This course offers an in-depth exploration of FPGA security, highlighting the importance of secure design practices in the development of FPGA-based systems. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of FPGA architecture, identify potential security vulnerabilities, learn cryptographic methods to protect data, understand secure booting and configuration processes, and explore physical security measures. The course combines theoretical knowledge with practical applications, including the use of FPGA security tools to reinforce learning objectives.
Target Audience:
- Electrical and Computer Engineers
- Hardware Designers and Developers
- Cybersecurity Professionals focusing on hardware security
- Graduate and Postgraduate Students in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and related fields
Prerequisites:
- Basic knowledge of digital logic design
- Understanding of computer architecture
- Familiarity with programming concepts
Learning Objectives:
Understanding FPGA Architecture:
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of FPGA architecture, including the structure of logic elements, interconnects, and configurable blocks.
Exploring FPGA Programming Techniques:
- Learn about different FPGA programming techniques, including Hardware Description Languages (HDLs) such as Verilog and VHDL, and understand the process of synthesizing and implementing designs on FPGAs.
Identifying Security Threats to FPGAs:
- Explore common security threats and vulnerabilities associated with FPGAs, including hardware Trojans, side-channel attacks, reverse engineering, and intellectual property (IP) theft.
Understanding FPGA Security Features:
- Learn about the security features built into modern FPGAs, such as bitstream encryption, secure boot, authentication, and tamper detection mechanisms.
Exploring FPGA Security Standards and Guidelines:
- Familiarize yourself with industry standards and guidelines related to FPGA security, such as the NIST SP 800-193 standard for Platform Firmware Resilience (PFR) and best practices for securing FPGA-based systems.
Implementing Secure Design Practices:
- Gain practical experience in implementing secure design practices for FPGAs, including design partitioning, access control, and secure communication protocols.
Understanding Secure Supply Chain Management:
- Learn about the importance of secure supply chain management for FPGAs, including techniques for ensuring the integrity and authenticity of FPGA devices throughout their lifecycle.
Exploring Hardware Security Assurance Techniques:
- Explore hardware security assurance techniques for FPGAs, such as hardware security testing, verification, and validation methodologies.
Case Studies and Real-World Applications:
- Analyze real-world case studies and examples of FPGA security breaches, vulnerabilities, and countermeasures in various application domains, such as aerospace, defense, telecommunications, and IoT.
Course Modules:
Module 1: Introduction to FPGA Security
- Overview of FPGA technology and applications
- Importance of security in FPGA-based systems
- Common security threats and vulnerabilities
Module 2: FPGA Architecture and Security Implications
- Understanding FPGA architecture: Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs), Interconnects, I/O Blocks
- Security aspects of FPGA architecture
- Potential vulnerabilities due to architectural features
Module 3: Security Risks and Threats to FPGAs
- Overview of security risks specific to FPGAs: Physical attacks, side-channel attacks, fault injection, and more
- Case studies of FPGA security breaches
Module 4: Cryptography in FPGA Security
- Basics of cryptography: symmetric and asymmetric algorithms, hash functions
- Implementing cryptographic algorithms on FPGAs
- Key management and storage solutions
Module 5: Secure Boot and Configuration of FPGAs
- Principles of secure booting and its importance
- Secure configuration processes for FPGAs
- Protecting FPGA configurations from tampering and unauthorized access
Module 6: Physical Security Measures for FPGAs
- Anti-tamper technologies and physical unclonable functions (PUFs)
- Hardware obfuscation techniques
- Design strategies to mitigate physical attacks
Module 7: Best Practices in FPGA Security Design
- Secure coding practices for FPGA development
- Lifecycle management of FPGA-based systems
- Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
Module 8: FPGA Security Tools and Techniques
- Overview of tools and software