nCipher Announces Embedded Cryptographic Hardware Security Modules

By Brian Turner

nCipher plc has announced the immediate availability of the miniHSM – the world’s first embedded hardware security module (HSM).

MiniHSM provides original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with an easy to integrate, secure solution for data encryption, digital signing and strong authentication. The product enables the integration of pre-validated cryptographic security into a diverse range of products including digital cinema projectors, electronic voting terminals, retail point-of-sale infrastructure, immigration border control and document processing machinery.

Although miniHSM is only about the size of a pack of chewing gum it is a cost-effective method of providing tamper-resistant hardware protection of encryption keys with a pre-validated FIPS 140-2 level 3 security rating. It is suitable for installation in devices where space and power are at a premium.

The miniHSM supports a wide range of cryptographic algorithms, including all common symmetric- and asymmetric-key cryptographic algorithms (including 3DES, AES, RSA, DH etc). It also support more specialist algorithms such as Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC).

The device incorporates a true random number generator and provides secure cryptographic key provisioning and storage. A built-in real-time clock enables value-added functionality such as time-stamping in addition to the standard cryptographic functions of encryption, digital signing and authentication.

miniHSM also supports nCipher’s suite of developer toolkits including CodeSafe, its unique Secure Execution Engine (SEE) capability for executing high assurance trusted custom applications within the device’s security boundary.