VLSI crypto-technology-application requirements

Supported by the activities of international standardization and influenced by the development of cryptography, requirements on security services and security mechanisms are increasing. The use of cryptography requires the handling of secret keys. Therefore, new approaches are necessary to fulfil the requirements in both software and hardware solutions. In addition, for symmetric cryptoalgorithms, solutions with the required operation speed are feasible. For asymmetric cryptoalgorithms, however, only solutions for a small amount of data are known. The author reviews the basic characteristics of these algorithms and their hardware implementation, with an emphasis on so-called smart chipcards.<>