What Is Hardware Security?

Introduction

For decades, cybersecurity was perceived as a “software problem.” However, as products become more connected and autonomous, the physical layer—the hardware—has become a prime target for sophisticated attackers. Hardware Security is the practice of protecting the physical components of a system from malicious attacks, unauthorized access, and tampering.

In a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) framework, hardware security is no longer an optional feature; it is a fundamental requirement. From medical devices to autonomous vehicles, the hardware must be resilient against “physical-to-digital” attacks. If the hardware is compromised, no amount of software security can restore the integrity of the system.

Why Hardware Security Matters in the PLM Lifecycle

A compromise at the hardware level is often permanent and undetectable. Within PLM, we address security to prevent:

1. Hardware Trojans: Malicious modifications to circuitry during the manufacturing process that can be triggered to disable a device or leak data.
2. Reverse Engineering: Protecting intellectual property (IP) by preventing competitors or attackers from deconstructing the physical hardware to steal design secrets.
3. Counterfeiting: Ensuring that “clone” parts, which may have lower quality or hidden vulnerabilities, do not enter the supply chain.
4. Side-Channel Attacks: Preventing attackers from “listening” to the hardware’s power consumption or electromagnetic emissions to extract encryption keys.

Core Pillars of Hardware Security

To build a secure product, engineers must implement several layers of protection:

• Silicon Root of Trust (RoT): A hardware-based source that is inherently trusted, used to verify the integrity of the system’s software and boot process.
• Secure Boot: Ensuring that the device only executes code signed by the original manufacturer.
• Physical Unclonable Functions (PUF): Utilizing the unique physical characteristics of each individual chip to create a “digital fingerprint” for authentication.
• Hardware-Based Encryption: Offloading cryptographic tasks to dedicated hardware (HSMs or TPMs) that are much harder to breach than software-only solutions.

The Role of Hardware Security in Regulated Industries

Hardware security is now mandated by several emerging standards:

• ISO/SAE 21434: Cybersecurity for the automotive industry.
• NIST SP 800-193: Platform Firmware Resiliency Guidelines.
• IEC 62443: Security for industrial automation and control systems.

How Visure Solutions Anchors Hardware Security

Visure Requirements ALM Platform allows organizations to manage security with the same rigor as functional requirements:

• Security Requirements Engineering: Visure enables the definition of specific “Security Requirements” (e.g., “The SoC must include a Secure Enclave”) alongside functional ones.
• Threat Modeling & Risk Linkage: Link identified security threats directly to the hardware requirements designed to mitigate them, ensuring no vulnerability is left unaddressed.
• Supply Chain Traceability: Use Visure to track the provenance of hardware components, ensuring that every chip and PCB comes from a verified, secure supplier.
• Compliance Automation: Visure automates the collection of evidence for cybersecurity audits (like ISO 21434), proving that security was considered at every stage of the design.
• Impact Analysis of Vulnerabilities: If a new hardware vulnerability is discovered (e.g., a “Spectre” or “Meltdown” style flaw), Visure can immediately identify every product in your portfolio that uses the affected component.

Conclusion

Hardware Security is the foundation upon which all digital trust is built. As we move toward a world of “Everything Connected,” the ability to guarantee the integrity of the physical device is a major competitive advantage and a moral imperative.

By integrating hardware security into the heart of the PLM lifecycle with Visure, companies transform security from a “final check” into an integral part of the design. When security requirements are traceable, verified, and linked to the hardware architecture, organizations can innovate with confidence, knowing their products are shielded from the silicon up.

Check out the 14-day free trial at Visure and experience how AI-driven change control can help you manage changes faster, safer, and with full audit readiness.