Automotive: Secure Embedded Systems for the Next Generation of Vehicles
Automotive Cybersecurity IPs and Tools for ECUs, ADAS and In-Vehicle-Infotainment (IVI) Systems
Modern vehicles are sophisticated digital platforms — with dozens of ECUs, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and AI-driven control and perception systems. But with greater software complexity and connectivity comes increased vulnerability to cyberattacks, both local and remote, cryptographic key theft, and AI model manipulation.
FortifyIQ provides essential building blocks for automotive security — without compromising power, performance, or silicon area.
Automotive Security Challenges
Automotive systems must withstand long lifespans, real-world attacks, and evolving regulatory demands:
Physical Exposure to
Cyber-Insecurity
Attackers with brief physical access to a vehicle can extract cryptographic keys via side-channel attacks (e.g., power analysis) and bypass secure boot or flash malicious firmware via fault injection (e.g., voltage glitching). They can then forge OTA updates to infect entire fleets, or spoof CAN bus messages remotely (if keys are leaked), and escalate to remote exploits (e.g., disabling brakes, stealing data), such as this attack.
AI Model Theft
and Tampering
In-vehicle AI models — for perception, behavior prediction, and more — must be protected from extraction, reverse engineering, and runtime manipulation via physical attacks.
Both passenger safety and the significant value of the AI models need to be safeguarded.
Legacy and Cost-
Constrained ECUs
Millions of vehicles still rely on outdated ECUs with no hardware security and no upgrade path — yet they remain connected and vulnerable, requiring modern software protections without replacing silicon.
Securing Revenue in Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs)
Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) turn every subsystem into a digital asset — from user-specific configurations and premium IVI content to monetizable sensor data streams. They must be protected against cyberattacks to secure the new associated business models.
Post-Quantum
Readiness
With vehicles on the road for decades, cryptographic systems must be quantum-resistant today to remain secure tomorrow.
Functional Safety +
Cybersecurity
Secure systems must coexist with ISO 26262 safety architectures — without breaking performance/power/area (PPA) constraints.
Compliance
Complexity
OEMs and Tier 1s must align with ISO/SAE 21434, UNECE WP.29 R155/R156, and other emerging automotive cybersecurity requirements.
Why FortifyIQ ?
FortifyIQ enables automotive platforms to resist real-world cyberattacks — while meeting security, compliance, and performance goals.
FIPS 140-3 (at all levels) and SESIP compliant. Common Criteria AVA_VAN.5 validated.
These internationally recognized certifications validate the security of cryptographic systems and hardware components across critical industries:
- FIPS 140-3 (Federal Information Processing Standard): A U.S. government standard for cryptographic modules, required in military, finance, and federal systems. It evaluates resistance to side-channel and fault-injection attacks across four levels of assurance.
- Common Criteria (ISO/IEC 15408): A global standard for evaluating the security of IT products, widely adopted in defense, telecom, and critical infrastructure. It includes rigorous testing against physical attack vectors (e.g., AVA_VAN.5).
- SESIP (Security Evaluation Standard for IoT Platforms): A modern certification tailored for connected and embedded devices, including IoT. It enables scalable, efficient evaluation of security features — mapping to other frameworks like FIPS and Common Criteria, and aligned with EN 303 645 and EU Cyber Resilience Act requirements.
FortifyIQ’s cryptographic security IP and software libraries are designed to support compliance with all three standards, including the highest assurance levels. Our countermeasures are proven to resist advanced physical attacks, enabling secure certification even for resource-constrained devices.
Maximum security without sacrificing functional metrics (PPA).
Side Channel & Fault Injection Attack (SCA/FIA) resistance in software, IP cores.
Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) hardened against physical attacks.
AI Model Protection – Secure models and inference logic against theft and tampering using hardened cryptographic safeguards.
Compliance support with automotive cybersecurity regulations including ISO/SAE 21434 and UNECE WP.29.
What FortifyIQ Covers:
- Cryptographic Modules Hardened Against Physical Attacks
FortifyIQ provides AES, HMAC, and PKA (ECC, RSA, etc.) implementations resistant to side-channel and fault injection attacks (SCA/FIA), validated up to AVA_VAN.5 and equivalent to FIPS 140-3 Levels 3/4. - Security IP Cores and OTA-Upgradable Software
Our hardware IPs deliver top-tier performance, minimal area, and low energy consumption. Where hardware cryptography is not feasible, our hardened software libraries (AES, HMAC, Public key, PQC) offer OTA-upgradable protection on legacy or cost-constrained platforms. - Certifiable Root-of-Trust Architectures
FortifyIQ RoTs — including configurations compatible with Caliptra and OpenTitan — support secure boot, firmware authentication, key storage, and post-quantum crypto readiness, all with exceptional PPA - Comprehensive Validation Artifacts
Our AES IP is backed by SGS Brightsight lab validation and other IPs are backed by rigorous internal validation against 100K to 1B traces with our advanced EDA security assessment tools. Some implementations are based on schemes with peer-reviewed proofs (the patented STORM for AES and TI-based implementation for HMAC).
We provide the validation documentation needed for automotive certification submissions.
- Component-Level Compliance Support
FortifyIQ solutions are engineered to meet the cryptographic security requirements within ISO/SAE 21434 and UNECE WP.29 (Annex 5), enabling customers to demonstrate component-level assurance as part of system certification.
You Must Cover:
- Organizational Governance and Certification Readiness
Maintain cybersecurity management and update management systems (CSMS, SUMS) per ISO/SAE 21434 and UNECE WP.29.
While FortifyIQ provides cryptographic validation documentation, customers are responsible for full system-level compliance and audit support. - V2X Infrastructure and PKI Integration
Build and maintain vehicle PKI infrastructure, trust anchors, and revocation services (e.g., CRL/OCSP).
FortifyIQ enables secure crypto operations (e.g., signing, verification), but does not provide certificate lifecycle or protocol stack implementations.
See our detailed certification offerings on the Validation Assurance Page.
Full-spectrum cryptography: from traditional to post-quantum cryptography, we offer a wide choice of software and hardware IPs to match any market vertical requirements.
Pre- and post-silicon EDA tools for in-house designers: A powerful suite of EDA tools that enable accurate pre- and post-silicon security assessments and support you throughout the complexity of your security implementations.
FortifyIQ Automotive Security Solutions
Pre- & Post-Silicon Validation Tools
For SoC designers building automotive-grade silicon with security:
- SideChannel Studio and FaultInjection Studio simulate real-world SCA/FIA attacks at the RTL level.
- Pinpoint vulnerabilities down to the gate, and mitigate them before tapeout.
- Avoid costly redesigns and revalidation.
- Post-silicon assessments supported with the same tools.
Hardware Crypto IP Cores: Ultra-Efficient and Secure
For high-assurance in-vehicle silicon with tight power/performance/area (PPA) requirements:
- SCA/FIA-hardened AES, SHA, HMAC, PKA, PQC crypto cores.
- Rivals non-hardened (vanilla) implementations in area, power, and performance in many automotive scenarios.
- Drop-in integration for automotive MCUs and MPUs, and secure co-processors, at any level of the modern vehicle Electrical/Electronic (E/E) architectures.
Software Crypto Libraries for Deployed and Cost-Sensitive ECUs
High-Efficiency, OTA-Ready, SCA/FIA-Hardened Libraries for ECUs
Protect already-deployed or cost-constrained platforms — without changing hardware:
- Hardened AES, HMAC-SHA2 – SCA and FIA protection on resource-limited CPUs.
- Used in performance-demanding real-world deployments (e.g., UHD video content protection on legacy devices)
- Performance: Up to 100 Mbps on a low-end mobile CPU (ARM A64 @ 1.2 GHz), and up to 900 Mbps on a standard 3.4 GHz laptop—suitable for in-vehicle applications requiring real-time cryptography without dedicated hardware.
- RAM requirements start at ~4 KB for AES (encryption only), 2 KB for HMAC.
- Automotive Compliance: Designed to meet ISO/SAE 21434 and support TARA-driven requirements for cryptographic implementations with SCA/FIA resistance.
- Ideal for ECUs and Telematics Units: Drop-in software protection for microcontrollers and processors in gateways, infotainment systems, and other vehicle subsystems.
- Asymmetric Cryptography: As SW asymmetric cryptography, it is designed for use in operations where performance is not critical and latency is acceptable.
- Hardened Public Key (ECC, RSA, etc.) – PK-SW:
- Public key operations in software for secure boot, signatures, and license validation on devices without PKA hardware.
- Enables secure boot, digital signature verification, license and entitlement validation, and secure updates — for systems without PKA hardware.
- PQC – Post Quantum Cryptography: Coming soon- OTA-upgradable for existing customers: PQC with SCA and FIA resistance and minimal overhead vs. vanilla PQC.
- Hardened Public Key (ECC, RSA, etc.) – PK-SW:
- Enables compliance for retrofits through software alone.
- Inherent post-quantum compliance with AES-256 and HMAC-SHA-512.
Root of Trust & CryptoBox IPs with PQC Support
For lifecycle trust, secure boot, key management, and quantum-safe upgrades:
- Full-featured compact Root of Trust and CryptoBox IPs (compatible with OpenTitan and Caliptra), with outstanding PPA.
- Includes AES, HMAC, PKA, and PQC algorithms, all hardened against physical attacks.
- Engineered for exceptional power, area, and performance efficiency (PPA) — delivering high assurance security at minimal system cost, and ready for in-vehicle applications.
- Protects AI models, cryptographic assets, and OTA updates at the system level.
Use Cases:
Protecting Critical Automotive Functions
FortifyIQ enables secure, long-lasting, and regulation-ready vehicle platforms:
Electronic Control Units (ECUs)
Secure firmware, protect keys, and resist SCA/FIA attacks.
Edge AI / ADAS Systems
Protect proprietary AI models from theft, reverse engineering, and runtime manipulation.
In-Vehicle Infotainmen
Enable secure user authentication and digital content protection.
V2X & Telematics
Safeguard communications with tamper-resistant, quantum-safe cryptographic keys.
Battery, Chassis, and Powertrain
Secure safety-critical systems from physical and injection-based tampering.
OTA Updates
Ensure authenticity and integrity of software updates using hardware roots of trust.
Secure Keys, Credentials, and Fleet Access
Protect smart cards and secure tokens used in keyless entry, fleet authentication, EV charging, and service authorization with hardened cryptographic protection.
Security Compliant, Validated, Future-Proofed
FortifyIQ Helps You:
Meet FIPS 140-3 at all levels and Common Criteria all levels to AVA_VAN.5, SESIP security benchmarks
Secure post-quantum cryptography and AI inference models from real-world attacks
Maintain system efficiency with significantly lower power than unhardened (vanilla) cryptography
Support both new automotive designs and legacy ECU deployments
Align with ISO/SAE 21434 and UNECE WP.29 R155/R156
Let's Secure the Future of
Automotive Systems
From ADAS and AI to OTA updates and full lifecycle trust, FortifyIQ delivers physical attack resistance and cryptographic assurance for the most demanding automotive systems.
Let’s talk about securing your vehicle platform — today and for the next 20 years.