Microsemi Achieves NIST Certification on EnforcIT(TM) Cryptography IP Cores for FPGA and ASIC Designs

Microsemi Achieves NIST Certification on EnforcIT(TM) Cryptography IP Cores for FPGA and ASIC Designs

Secures Critical Data with DOD Grade U.S.-Developed Suite B Cryptography

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., April 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC), a leading provider of semiconductor solutions differentiated by power, security, reliability and performance, announced it has achieved National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) algorithmic certification on its U.S.-developed EnforcIT(TM) Cryptography Suite of National Security Agency (NSA) Suite B algorithms.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110909/MM66070LOGO)

The EnforcIT Cryptography Suite contains intellectual property (IP) cores for the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), the XTS-AES Tweakable Block Cipher, Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), and the Secure Hashing Algorithm (SHA-2) with HMAC. These cryptography cores support multiple key sizes and block cipher modes. In addition, the highly configurable cores address security, area and throughput needs on all standard SRAM FPGAs, flash-based FPGAs and ASICs.

"Microsemi has a long track record of providing cryptography products that deliver outstanding security and value to the United States government and Department of Defense," said Charlie Leader, vice president at Microsemi. "Earning this important certification for our EnforcIT Cryptography Suite is yet another step forward in our quest to provide increasingly secure, industry-qualified solutions that meet or exceed our customers' critical data needs."

"NIST algorithmic certification ensures that our NSA Suite B cryptography cores meet the strictest standards," said Michael Mehlberg, vice president of product management at Microsemi. "As a result, we can now offer our customers further assurance that their critical data is safely stored and transmitted when integrated into an FPGA or ASIC design."

Microsemi's EnforcIT Cryptography Suite includes many of the key sizes, operating modes and features expected in a full NSA Suite B cryptography algorithmic implementation. Specifically, the AES core provides 128, 192 and 256-bit key size support in CBC, CFB, OFB and CTR block cipher modes. The ECC core is an elliptic curve arithmetic unit with support for elliptic curve digital signature algorithms (ECDSA) on 256-bit prime fields (384 and 521-bit key sizes can be supported upon request). SHA-2 supports digest computation for 224, 256, 384 and 512-bit digest sizes with bit-length messages. HMAC supports any combination of SHA-2 algorithms, bit-length keys and messages. XTS-AES supports 128, 192 and 256-bit key sizes; whole block ciphering; and provides length-preserving encryption.

The EnforcIT Cryptography Suite is designed for flexibility in speed and security, and now provides higher assurance with NIST algorithmic certification. All IP cores are designed for low-risk integration into nearly all standard SRAM or flash-based FPGAs, and could be instantiated into an ASIC design. These and other Microsemi cryptography products including WhiteboxCRYPTO(TM) are designed and built in the U.S. in Microsemi's trusted facility located in Phoenix, Ariz. and in West Lafayette, Ind.

EnforcIT Cryptography Suite Key Features:

    --  NIST-certified AES supporting 128-bit, 192-bit and 256-bit keys,
        encryption and decryption with CBC, CFB, CTR and OFB block cipher modes
    --  NIST-certified ECC P-256 key validation and verification
    --  NIST-certified SHA-2 224-bit, 256-bit, 384-bit and 512-bit hashing with
        support for HMAC
    --  NIST-certified XTS-AES supporting 128-bit, 192-bit and 256-bit keys;
        encryption and decryption; and whole block length-preserving ciphering
    --  User-configurable cryptography cores to balance security, area and
        throughput
    --  Additional security measures built into the cryptographic
        implementations to prevent tampering and reverse engineering
The EnforcIT Cryptography Suite was validated by InfoGard Laboratories, Inc. and certified by the NIST. The certification is expected to be posted to the NIST website later this month:

http://csrc.nist.gov/groups/STM/cavp/documents/aes/aesval.html

http://csrc.nist.gov/groups/STM/cavp/documents/shs/shaval.htm

http://csrc.nist.gov/groups/STM/cavp/documents/mac/hmacval.html
http://csrc.nist.gov/groups/STM/cavp/documents/dss/ecdsaval.html

Microsemi has full design, manufacture and test capabilities for a wide variety of multiple component packages (MCPs), commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) memory, microprocessors, FPGA designs, secure software engineering and a combination MCPs for demanding applications. These microelectronic products can also be ruggedized and processed for tamper resistance. All devices are subjected to extensive environmental and temperature testing. Microsemi's maintains a DMEA accredited facility in Phoenix, Ariz. for assembly and test and a U.S. only facility in West Lafayette, Ind. for systems security engineering. Its quality and inspection system requirements are certified to MIL-PRF-38534 Class H and K, MIL-PRF-38535 Class Q, ISO 9001:2008 and AS9100. For more information call 765-775-1004.

About Microsemi

Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor and system solutions for communications, defense & security, aerospace and industrial markets. Products include high-performance, radiation-hardened and highly reliable analog mixed-signal integrated circuits, FPGAs, SoCs and ASICs; power management products; timing and voice processing devices; RF solutions; discrete components; security technologies and scalable anti-tamper products; Power-over-Ethernet ICs and midspans; as well as custom design capabilities and services. Microsemi is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, Calif., and has approximately 3,000 employees globally. Learn more at http://www.microsemi.com.

Microsemi and the Microsemi logo are registered trademarks or service marks of Microsemi Corporation and/or its affiliates. Third-party trademarks and service marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Any statements set forth in this news release that are not entirely historical and factual in nature, including without limitation statements related to EnforcIT NIST Certification, and its potential effects on future business, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as rapidly changing technology and product obsolescence, potential cost increases, variations in customer order preferences, weakness or competitive pricing environment of the marketplace, uncertain demand for and acceptance of the company's products, adverse circumstances in any of our end markets, results of in-process or planned development or marketing and promotional campaigns, difficulties foreseeing future demand, potential non-realization of expected orders or non-realization of backlog, product returns, product liability, and other potential unexpected business and economic conditions or adverse changes in current or expected industry conditions, difficulties and costs of protecting patents and other proprietary rights, inventory obsolescence and difficulties regarding customer qualification of products. In addition to these factors and any other factors mentioned elsewhere in this news release, the reader should refer as well to the factors, uncertainties or risks identified in the company's most recent Form 10-K and all subsequent Form 10-Q reports filed by Microsemi with the SEC. Additional risk factors may be identified from time to time in Microsemi's future filings. The forward-looking statements included in this release speak only as of the date hereof, and Microsemi does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

MSCCP

SOURCE  Microsemi Corporation

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110909/MM66070LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Microsemi Corporation

CONTACT: Gwen Carlson, Director of Corporate Communications, 949.380.6135, Beth P. Quezada, Communications Specialist, 949.380.6102, Email: press@microsemi.com

Web Site: http://www.microsemi.com