Memory chips offer end-to-end security for IoT devices

The W77Q memory chips provide hardware root-of-trust and secure, encrypted data-storage and data-transfer capabilities.

By ensuring robust, end-to-end security in IoT devices it enables:

• Secure code updates, including over-the-air updates, via an end-to-end secure channel between an update authority and the W77Q even when the host processor or SoC has been compromised.
• Secure boot and root-of-trust
• Authenticated and encrypted data transfer between the Flash device and the host
• Secure Execute-in-Place (XiP) of boot and application code
• System resilience, supporting the key security functions of protection, detection and recovery

The W77Q series products are supplied in industry-standard packages and pin-outs, and feature a standard single/dual/quad/QPI serial peripheral interface (SPI). This means that they can be used as a simple drop-in replacement for non-secure SPI NOR Flash devices.

The W77Q and W75F are designed to cover the whole range of assurance levels mandated by the European Cybersecurity Act and other regulations. The W77Q is intended for use in consumer and industrial devices which need the security functions required for compliance with the Substantial and Basic assurance levels specified in the Act.

The products support conformance to the Common Criteria EAL2, SESIP and ArmPlatform Security Architecture (PSA) security specifications.

The W75F is certified for Common Criteria EAL5+, which means it is suitable for use in payment and communications devices, and in applications requiring the High assurance levels specified in the Cybersecurity Act.

Hung-Wei Chen, Marketing Director for the Secure Flash product line at Winbond, said: ‘The W77Q is a game-changer product, a follow-on to the existing W75F which offers the industry's strongest security in an SPI Flash memory, suitable for the most sensitive financial and communications applications. Now, with the W77Q, Winbond is meeting the need of customers to protect and authenticate any kind of smart, connected device used at home or in the factory.