To provide the highest level of protection, Infineon Technologies AG is launching the SLS37 V2X hardware security module (HSM), a plug-and-play security solution for vehicle-to-everything communication (V2X). The SLS37 V2X HSM is based on a highly secured, tamper-resistant microcontroller tailored to the security needs in V2X applications within telematics control units. It is protecting the integrity and moreover authenticity of messages, as well as the privacy of the sender. The HSM received the Common Criteria EAL4+ certification, which is expected to become mandatory in European V2X systems.

With trends such as electrification, autonomous driving, and connected cars, the number of communication interfaces in vehicles is growing – whether wired or wireless. However, this development entails new challenges because the numerous communication channels create new attack surfaces increasing the vulnerability of the systems. Comprehensive security concepts are therefore becoming more important to support the safety of passengers and the protection of their data.

In a V2X host environment, the discrete HSM helps system integrators to solve the conflicting requirements of high performance and high security. Therefore, the scope of the SLS37 V2X HSM is focused on high-security tasks such as key storage and the generation of signatures for outgoing messages. This removes the burden of a Security Certification from the host processor, which runs the Linux operating system, from the application software as well as the less security-relevant but performance-hungry verification of incoming messages.

In addition to automotive telematics control units, the target applications of the SLS37 V2X HSM are roadside units or other infrastructure for V2X communication. The solution supports all major vehicle credential management systems including SCMS, CCMS, and ESPS. It accepts a wide supply voltage range from 1,6 to 3,6 V, comes with a high-speed SPI interface with up to 10 MHz, and is qualified for harsh automotive applications according to AEC-Q100.

Infineon’s complimentary host software package makes the SLS37 V2X HSM a plug-and-play solution. Rooted in hardware and embedded in a secured and certified manufacturing environment, the personalization concept minimizes customer’s efforts for key management while offering a maximum of security during the product lifecycle. The sophisticated personalization concept is leveraging a set of chip-unique and customer-individual certificates and keys for ease of use enabling vendor verification, pairing, and transport protection as well as secured-in-field-updates. As a discrete security controller, SLS37 also provides scalability for platform development covering different regions with different security requirements.

The SLS37 V2X HSM can be ordered now.