Sarah Leeman

Frequently asked questions

What types of embedded cybersecurity solutions does Idaho Scientific
provide?

Idaho Scientific delivers hardware-rooted cybersecurity solutions that protect embedded systems against cyber, physical, and supply-chain threats. Core offerings include:
‍
- Secure bus protection for legacy and modern avionics/data buses
- Inline Memory Encryption (IME) to protect code and data in external memory
- Side-channel resistant cryptographic IP cores for data-at-rest and data-in-transit protection

These solutions are designed to operate transparently within mission systems without disrupting performance, timing, or certification baselines.

What problems do these solutions address in embedded systems?

Embedded systems face threats that software-only controls cannot adequately mitigate, including:
‍
- Bus-level command injection and eavesdropping
- Physical memory probing and data extractionBitstream, firmware, and IP theft
- Side-channel attacks such as Differential Power Analysis (DPA)

Idaho Scientific’s approach secures data paths, memory interfaces, and cryptographic operations directly in hardware, preventing entire classes of attacks rather than attempting to detect them after compromise.

How difficult is integration into an existing embedded design?

Integration is designed to be straightforward:
‍
- Standard AXI and AXI-Stream interfaces
- IP-XACT packaged VHDL coresReference designs, drivers, and documentation included

Most customers integrate protection at the chip or board level without modifying application software or mission logic.

Are these solutions suitable for Programs of Record and regulated
environments?

Yes. Idaho Scientific technologies are government validated, fielded in Programs of Record, and developed by cleared U.S. engineers in secure facilities with no foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI). They are designed to support long lifecycle programs and certification-constrained systems.