Atmel introduces AT98SC016CU Secure Solution for Embedded Systems

Atmel introduced the AT98SC016CU, the new member of AT98SC family of secure solutions. The new device has high security functions that provide efficient counter-measures against hacking, duplicating (cloning), counterfeiting, data/IP stealing and phishing for embedded system applications. AT98SC016CU secure solution is suitable for applications which required enhanced security system, such as e-tokens, network appliances, gaming consoles,  metering devices, set-top-boxes, door locks, franking machines, tachometers and vending machines.

About AT98SC
Atmel’s AT98SC is a complete turnkey cost-effective single chip solution to add security in embedded systems (Servers/Routers, PDAs, Set Top Boxes, etc). It has been designed to serve anti-cloning, access control and hardware protection applications.
The first two devices of this product family, the AT98SC008CT and AT98SC032CT-USB, provide an embedded « crypto » application allowing strong authentication with digital signature, encryption, message digest and secure storage of user data (keys, etc.). It includes a hardware Triple DES supporting symmetric-key operations and a 32-bit crypto accelerator for public-key operations (RSA and Elliptic Curves signature algorithms). The chip provides a robust communication protocol, a persistent data storage with secure memory management (access control, anti-tearing), and an administration application to manage contents and configuration of the chip.
AT98SC incorporates many advanced security features embedded in Smart Cards secure products dedicated for Banking, ID and Pay-TV. Such features includes power and frequency protection logic, logical scrambling on data and address, power analysis countermeasures and Eeprom access control.

The AT98SC016CU is designed to provide outstanding cryptographic functions. It features powerful cryptographic algorithms such as RSA, TDES or Elliptic Curves (ECC), together with 16Kbyte tamper-proof and tamper-evident secure data storage. The solution is based on a secureAVR microcontroller, ready for independent Common Criteria EAL4+ certification. The security module is eligible for FIPS140-2 Level 3. Wide choice of interfaces (ISO7816, SPI, TWI ) makes the physical integration in any existing system fast and easy.

Eric Le Cocquen, Atmel, stated:

We are very proud to add the AT98SC016CU to our AT98SC product family of royalty and license-free highly secure solutions. Adding to an embedded system a security module that will, among others, effectively store sensitive data, prevent hardware counterfeiting and provide authentication services, has never been so fast and easy. With already three products available and more in development, Atmel, the leading secure microcontroller manufacturer with more than 20 years of expertise in security designs, is committed to making the AT98SC family the best generic solution available on the marketplace for such applications…

The customization of the AT98SC016CU is also possible in a flash with the help of a flexible and user-friendly PC configuration software. The product does not require lengthy nor complex program development, specific expertise in security, nor heavy ROM masking. This tremendously accelerates product time-to-market, thereby offering customers a significant advance over competitors.

AT98SC016CU is currently in sampling. It is available in the small SOIC8 and QFN20 packages.

More info:  Atmel AT98SC016CU Secure Microcontroller