Secure Elements

Abstract

A Secure Element (SE) is a chip that can store sensitive data like secret or private keys, and run a cryptographic function without disclosing the underlying key.

Most SpringCore devices feature one or more Secure Elements, and provide the interfaces to use them, or are ready to use them during Smart Reader transactions.

Supported Secure Elements

The next paragraph list the Secure Elements embedded in either product. At a whole, the SpringCore architecture supports the following chips:

  • The NXP® MIFARE SAM AV (AV2 or AV3 depending on the version). This Secure Element stores up to 128 DES, 3DES or AES keys, and provides authentication and secure communication with MIFARE DESfire® and MIFARE Plus® cards. The AV3 version adds support for NTAG® DNA NFC tags and ICODE® DNA and RFID labels. In some configurations, the SAM AV is also used to secure the communication between the host and the SpringCore device.
  • The Microchip ATECC608A is a Secure Element dedicated to Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). It stores up to 14 ECC P-256 private keys, and is the core of the Apple VAS and Google VAS transactions.
  • The Microchip ATAES132A is a Secure Element dedicated to AES. It is only present in a few customer-specific products and is used to secure the communication between the host and the device.

Secure Elements by product

SpringCard products

Product SAM AV2 SAM AV3 ATECC ATAES
PUCK Yes No Yes No

Customer-specific products

Product SAM AV2 SAM AV3 ATECC ATAES
S550 No Yes Yes No