Cycuity Partners with SiFive and BAE Systems to Strengthen Microelectronics Design Supply Chain Security

By David Miller

April 4, 2025

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, ensuring the security of microelectronics is more critical than ever. SiFive worked with Cycuity, a leading provider of hardware security solutions, and BAE Systems to demonstrate a groundbreaking approach to improving the security of third-party intellectual property (IP) in microelectronics design and supply chains.

Addressing the Challenges of Third-Party IP Security

As the demand for third-party IP components grows, so does the potential for system-level security vulnerabilities. These components are often highly configurable and programmable, making them more susceptible to security risks. Verifying the integrity and security of these IP components is essential to safeguarding microelectronic systems, particularly when these systems are used in critical applications like defense and commercial sectors. Through our partnership, Cycuity, SiFive, and BAE Systems are developing a scalable, evidence-based security framework that enables comprehensive validation of third-party IP. This collaboration focuses on ensuring that third-party IP remains secure and trustworthy throughout the design lifecycle, providing designers with the confidence they need to integrate external components into complex systems.

Cycuity’s Radix Technology

Cycuity’s Radix technology creates a “security digital twin” of an IP block, allowing it to be re-verified by a system-on-chip (SoC) integrator at both the block level and full chip level. This process generates verifiable security evidence that assures the security of third-party IP throughout its lifecycle. In a recent demonstration, Radix was successfully used to validate the integration, configuration, and security of SiFive’s Intelligence™ X280 RISC-V processor within a radiation-hardened SoC developed by BAE Systems. This demonstration showcases how Cycuity’s approach can provide strong, evidence-based assurance that third-party IP is secure, even in challenging environments like the defense industry.

Supporting Innovation and Security in SoC Development

For SoC developers, the ability to integrate third-party IP securely is a game-changer. John Ronco, VP of Product at SiFive, highlighted the importance of using Radix to validate the secure integration of IP, noting that it empowers developers to innovate faster while maintaining high levels of security. This is particularly crucial in industries where both speed and security are paramount, such as in the development of advanced microelectronics for defense and commercial applications.

The partnership between Cycuity, SiFive, and BAE Systems is a strong step towards creating a more secure microelectronics ecosystem, where third-party IP can be safely integrated into cutting-edge systems without compromising security.

Meeting the Strict Security Standards of Defense and Commercial Systems

The need for robust, traceable security assurances is growing across the microelectronics ecosystem. As Gayatri Perlin, Secure by Design Group Lead at BAE Systems' FAST Labs™, explained, "Today’s defense and commercial systems must meet the increasing need for traceable security assurances across the microelectronics ecosystem." By focusing on design- and application-specific security requirements, the collaboration aims to ensure that third-party IP is thoroughly tested and secure, meeting the rigorous standards set by the Department of Defense (DoD) and other critical industries.

With this new framework, developers can be confident that their designs—whether for defense, aerospace, or commercial applications—are secure, reliable, and compliant with the highest security standards.

A Step Toward Resilient Microelectronics for the Future

By developing a secure ecosystem for third-party IP, Cycuity, SiFive, and BAE Systems are setting the stage for safer, more secure microelectronics in both defense and commercial applications. With increasing reliance on third-party components and complex designs, ensuring the security of these systems is essential for the continued innovation and reliability of modern technology.

As the demand for secure and reliable systems continues to grow, initiatives like this will play a crucial role in shaping the future of microelectronics design and supply chain security.