Microchip Technology has announced the release of the new family of PIC32CK 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) with an integrated Hardware Security Module (HSM) subsystem and Arm Cortex-M33 core featuring TrustZone technology. This announcement comes as a response to new legislation taking effect in 2024, which mandates stricter cybersecurity requirements for consumer IoT devices and critical infrastructure.
The PIC32CK SG is the first 32-bit device on the market that combines the strong security of an HSM with TrustZone technology. The HSM provides a high level of security for authentication, secure debug, secure boot, and secure updates, while TrustZone technology adds an extra layer of protection for key software functions. The HSM can accelerate a wide range of symmetric and asymmetric cryptography standards, true random number generation, and secure key management.
The PIC32CK MCUs are designed to support ISO 26262 functional safety and ISO/SAE 21434 cybersecurity standards. They offer a wide range of options to tailor the level of security, memory, and connectivity bandwidth based on the specific requirements of the end application. Options include up to 2 MB dual-panel Flash and 512 KB SRAM, as well as connectivity options like 10/100 Ethernet, CAN FD, and USB.
According to Rod Drake, corporate vice president of Microchip's MCU32 and MPU32 business units, the PIC32CK MCU family makes it cost-effective to provide hardware-based security to mid-range microcontroller applications, addressing the emerging requirements where security is becoming mandatory for the majority of IoT connected devices. Microchip also offers an ecosystem of tools and security expertise to help customers navigate the complexities of the new requirements and provide lifecycle support for their products.
For product supply chains that require additional security and safety protection in industries such as industrial design, medical devices, home appliances, and consumer IoT devices, the PIC32CK will be supported with Microchip's Trust Platform Design Suite for provisioning as a service. This platform allows for the secure factory provisioning of keys, certificates, and intellectual property without the need to reveal these secrets within the supply chain.
The 32-bit PIC32CK MCU family is supported by Microchip's software platforms, including MPLAB Harmony v3 and Trust Platform Design Suite. Development boards such as the PIC32CK SG and PIC32CK GC Curiosity Ultra Development Boards, including the EV33A17A and EV44P93A, are available to support developers working with these MCUs.
