Helios™ Cyber Secure Processor: A New Era in Embedded Security
In today’s digital world, embedded systems serve as the backbone of critical applications—from aerospace and defense systems to industrial automation and secure communications. As these systems become more connected and complex, they also become more vulnerable to cyber threats. Traditional processors were not built with cyber resilience in mind. That’s where the Helios™ Cyber Secure Processor comes in—a processor designed from the ground up to eliminate common vulnerabilities and bring robust protection to mission-critical environments.
1. Security-First Architecture
Unlike conventional processors, Helios is built on a Harvard architecture that separates data and instruction memory. This design eliminates many of the most common cyberattack vectors, such as code injection or corruption of program execution flow. With built-in support for just-in-time decryption and authentication, Helios ensures that only verified code and data are executed—protecting against both software-based and physical attacks.
2. Broad Attack Mitigation
Helios is engineered to defend against a wide range of attacks that plague modern embedded systems. These include:
- Code injection attacks, such as return-oriented programming.
- Memory corruption, including buffer overflows and unauthorized writes.
- Cold boot and physical memory attacks, where attackers try to extract data from RAM.
- DMA-based attacks, which exploit peripheral devices to access protected memory.
- Tampering during boot, ensuring systems start in a trusted state every time.
By eliminating these vulnerabilities at the hardware level, Helios ensures that systems remain resilient even in hostile or high-risk environments.
3. Integrated Cryptographic Engine
At the core of Helios is a powerful hardware-based cryptographic engine. This engine performs inline encryption and authentication of code and data, ensuring that sensitive information is never exposed as plaintext in memory. Only authenticated instructions and data blocks are allowed to execute, offering robust protection against unauthorized access, manipulation, or reverse engineering.
4. Easy Integration
Helios is delivered as synthesizable IP, meaning it can be integrated directly into custom FPGA or ASIC designs. Its drop-in compatibility allows for quick deployment with minimal impact on existing system architecture. Developers can maintain their current workflows and codebases while adding strong hardware-level security to their designs. This makes Helios ideal for both new product development and security retrofits of existing systems.
5. Built for Mission-Critical Applications
The advanced features of Helios make it well-suited for sectors where security and reliability are paramount:
- Defense and aerospace: Protect sensitive flight controllers, navigation systems, and communication links.
- Industrial control: Secure PLCs, SCADA systems, and robotic controllers from tampering and data theft.
- Critical infrastructure: Defend power grids, transport systems, and secure communication endpoints.
- Medical devices: Ensure patient data, diagnostics, and operational safety are never compromised.
6. Why Helios?
The Helios Cyber Secure Processor provides a foundation of trust. It ensures that embedded systems:
- Only run authenticated, encrypted code and data.
- Are immune to a wide range of known cyberattack techniques.
- Maintain system integrity and confidentiality at all times.
- Can be deployed quickly without redesigning existing software stacks.
In Summary
Helios is a transformative solution for embedded security. It empowers developers to create tamper-resistant, cyber-resilient devices without sacrificing performance or flexibility. As threats continue to evolve, Helios offers a proactive defense strategy—embedding security directly into the core of your system. For any application that demands trustworthy computing, Helios is the next logical step.
