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Robust Security for Embedded Systems


Protecting embedded systems with robust security is essential in Internet of Things (IoT), automotive, medical, consumer, wireless, industrial and other connected designs. Security standards are available and constantly evolving to reinforce requirements of IoT applications. Many automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are including security in their design specifications to protect Electronic Control Units (ECUs) in connected vehicles from attacks. 

No matter what market or application they address, these security specifications all contain similar requirements:

  • Unique passwords for all devices without default passwords
  • Secure storage to isolate sensitive cryptographic keys
  • Firmware verification at boot to ensure integrity before execution and after software updates
  • Secure communication between devices or ECUs and the external world

Featured Products


dsPIC33A DSCs with Integrated Cryptographic Accelerators

Real-Time Control, Functional Safety, Advanced Analog

  • Crypto accelerator for ECC, RSA, AES, SHA algorithms
  • Security module for device locking, configurable Flash access control and Immutable Root of Trust (IRT)
  • Immutable secure boot
  • Secure firmware upgrade (with live update)
  • IP protection
  • Secure debug
  • Flash configurable as One-Time Programmable (OTP) memory
  • Specialized features for digital power, motor control, advanced sensing, touch and high-performance designs
  • Automotive AEC-Q100 Grade 0 qualified

dsPIC33C MPT DSC with Integrated HSM

Real-Time Control, Functional Safety, Robust Security

  • Robust security with the simplicity of an MCU
  • Off-die secure subsystem that is compliant with the EVITA Full Specification for automotive security
  • Immutable secure boot
  • Secure firmware upgrade (with live update)
  • Secure on-board communication and message authentication
  • Electronic Control Unit (ECU) authentication
  • WPC 1.3 Qi® high-power wireless charger authentication
  • IP protection
  • Disable debug mode
  • Flash configurable as One-Time Programmable (OTP) memory
  • Specialized features for digital power, motor control, advanced sensing, touch and high-performance designs
  • Automotive AEC Q100 Grade 1 qualified

dsPIC33C DSCs

High-Performance Dual- and Single-Core DSCs, Functional Safety

  • 100 MHz performance for real-time control and deterministic response
  • CodeGuard security and Flash OTP for secure, immutable boot and firmware upgrades
  • Excellent for high-performance embedded, digital power, motor control and functional safety applications requiring security
  • For use with our ATECC608 or TA100 secure elements for robust security

Secure Application Design


Secure applications can be designed using either the dsPIC33A DSC with cryptographic accelerators or the dsPIC33C DSCs combined with our ATECC608 CryptoAuthentication™ and TrustAnchor100 (TA100) CryptoAutomotive™ security ICs.

Our dsPIC33C DSCs deliver high performance, low power consumption and an application-specific feature set for low-power security, sensor interfacing, real-time control, functional safety, digital power conversion, Qi® wireless charger and motor control applications. 

dsPIC33 DSCs for Your Secure Applications


Security Features dsPIC33A DSCs With Cryptographic Accelerators dsPIC33C DSCs dsPIC33CK-MPT Secure DSCs
Crypto Accelerators Support by pairing with external ATECC608 or TA100 device
IRT/Immutable Boot
Flash Segmentation and Access Control 8 configurable segments 2 configurable segments 2 configurable segments
Disable Debug
Secure Debug - -
RNG Support by pairing with external ATECC608 or TA100 device
Immutable Storage for Public Keys
Secure Storage for Private Keys and Symmetric Keys Support by pairing with external ATECC608 or TA100 device Support by pairing with external ATECC608 or TA100 device

 dsPIC33 DSC Development Ecosystem for Secure Applications


Secure Boot and Secure Firmware Upgrades: dsPIC33A DSC Bootloader Demo

The dsPIC33A DSC bootloader demo leverages the Crypto Accelerator Module (CAM) and hardware security features of the dsPIC33A DSC to implement secure boot and secure firmware upgrades.

Cryptographic Library for dsPIC33A DSCs

This library provides an easy-to-use abstraction layer for the crypto accelerators on dsPIC33A DSCs. 

Key Features

  • Comprehensive library supporting symmetric and public-private key cryptography, hashing functions, digital signature algorithms and True Random Number Generators (TRNG)
  • Essential building block for implementing security use cases such as secure boot, secure firmware updates and secure communication

Featured Hardware Ecosystem


OCP Power Supply – SPDM Solution Demonstration Application


This demo application utilizes a dsPIC33C MPT secure DSC or dsPIC33C DSC in conjunction with the TA100 CryptoAutomotive™ security IC to implement the Security Protocol and Data Model (SPDM) specification. This enables a digital power solution that satisfies the security requirements for an OCP-compliant power supply.

Additional Resources


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Security Webinars

Join our security experts and partners to learn about the latest trends and new developments for safeguarding your designs.

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Technical Training Courses on Embedded Security

Available for free and on demand from Microchip University, our dsPIC Bootloaders Using MCC: Device Side offers a live demonstration of implementing a bootloader, secure boot and secure firmware upgrades.

dsPIC® DSC Bootloaders Using MCC–Device Side

Focuses on developing a secure 16-bit bootloader and a generic bootloader with dsPIC33 DSCs

Cryptography Primer

Fundamentals of symmetric and asymmetric cryptography and how to apply each in real-world situations

Microchip's Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure Process


In the event of the discovery of a vulnerability in any of our products, tools, software or firmware solutions, our Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) is set up to ensure that the vulnerability is mitigated and communicated responsibly. Use the link below to follow our coordinated disclosure process to report your findings.

Secure Design Products


Microchip University Trainings


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Cryptography Primer

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dsPIC® DSC Bootloaders Using MCC–Device Side