Hardware Secure Element Achieves FIPS 140-3 Level 3 Certification

NXP Semiconductors has recently unveiled a new hardware secure element that has been certified to FIPS 140-3. This certification is a significant milestone for the company, as it demonstrates their commitment to providing advanced security solutions for industrial IoT devices.

The SE052F, as it is called, offers the flexibility of a secure element while incorporating the latest generation of the Federal Information Processing Standard. This standard is mandated by NIST for participation in federal projects in the US and Canada. According to NXP, many IoT device manufacturers are increasingly seeking certifications like Common Criteria or FIPS, even if they are not directly involved in national or federal contracts.

Part of the SE052 family, the SE052F is the only version that is compliant with the FIPS standard and is also certified to Common Criteria EAL 6+. It is powered by an integrated Javacard operating system and applets, ensuring a high level of security for data stored within the element.

One of the key features of the SE052F is the NXP IoT applet, which provides complete isolation of content from the memory to the host system. However, NXP cautions that updating the applet could render the device non-FIPS compliant, necessitating a recertification process.

In addition to its secure design, the SE052F offers advanced cryptographic capabilities, including ECDSA, ECDH/E, and RSA encryption based on NIST and Brainpool curves. It also supports authenticated AES encryption modes CCM/GCM, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.