Semiconductor Type:
Security Silicon
Security silicon refers to dedicated chips or IP blocks designed to safeguard data, identities, and systems against tampering, theft, and cyberattacks. These devices enforce hardware roots-of-trust, secure key storage, and cryptographic operations. Unlike software-based security, silicon-assisted security provides stronger guarantees by anchoring trust at the hardware level, making it foundational to modern computing, IoT, and critical infrastructure.
Role in the Semiconductor Ecosystem
- Provide a hardware root of trust for secure boot, identity, and attestation.
- Offload cryptographic functions (RSA, ECC, AES) from CPUs/SoCs for efficiency and security.
- Essential in regulated industries (finance, healthcare, defense) and in compliance with standards (FIPS, Common Criteria, NIST).
- Protect sensitive assets: credentials, encryption keys, biometric data, and firmware integrity.
Security Silicon Categories
- TPMs (Trusted Platform Modules): Provide secure boot, attestation, and key storage; required in enterprise PCs and servers.
- HSMs (Hardware Security Modules): Larger-scale cryptographic appliances; anchor cloud, banking, and identity systems.
- Secure Elements (SEs): Tamper-resistant chips embedded in smartcards, passports, payment cards, and IoT devices.
- Roots of Trust (RoT): Integrated IP blocks in SoCs that ensure secure boot and firmware validation.
- eSIM/eUICC: Embedded SIM modules enabling remote provisioning and secure network authentication.
- Automotive Security ICs: Provide secure in-vehicle communications (CAN, Ethernet) and OTA update integrity.
Representative Vendors
| Vendor | Product / Technology | Target Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infineon | OPTIGAâ„¢ TPM, secure elements | PCs, automotive, IoT | Market leader in TPMs and automotive-grade security ICs |
| NXP | EdgeLock® SE, eSIM solutions | IoT, mobile, automotive | Strong in secure elements and mobile payments |
| STMicroelectronics | STSAFE secure elements, RoT IP | IoT, industrial, identity | Integrates security IP into STM32 MCU ecosystem |
| Microchip | CryptoAuthenticationâ„¢ devices | Embedded, industrial IoT | Simple drop-in authentication chips |
| Qualcomm | Secure Processing Unit (SPU) | Mobile SoCs | Integrated RoT + biometric security for Snapdragon |
| AWS / Nitro | Nitro Security Chip | Cloud servers | Custom silicon securing AWS infrastructure |
Applications
- Cloud & Data Center: HSMs and Nitro chips enforce tenant isolation and key security.
- PCs & Laptops: TPM 2.0 chips required by Microsoft Windows 11 and enterprise IT policies.
- IoT Devices: Secure elements for device identity, OTA update integrity, and secure communications.
- Automotive: Protection against ECU tampering, secure in-car networking, and ADAS system integrity.
- Mobile & Payments: SEs and eSIMs secure mobile banking, NFC, and SIM credentials.
Market Outlook
The security IC market exceeded ~$5B in 2023 and is expected to surpass ~$9B by 2030 (~8% CAGR). Drivers include regulatory requirements, IoT proliferation, automotive cybersecurity mandates (UNECE WP.29), and cloud hyperscaler adoption of custom security chips. As digital infrastructure becomes a target in geopolitical conflicts, security silicon will be increasingly treated as critical infrastructure technology.