About the course

🔐 Course Title:

Crypto Security Model: Hardware Security Peripherals (HSM) using NXP S32K3xx

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📘 Course Description:

This hands-on course enables embedded engineers and system developers to build secure applications using the Hardware Security Module (HSM) integrated within NXP’s S32K3xx automotive-grade microcontrollers. Designed around real-world embedded security requirements, this course focuses on implementing cryptographic operations, secure boot mechanisms, key management, and certificate-based authentication using S32 Design Studio.

Learners will begin by exploring the architecture of the HSM, including its firewall protection, secure partitions, and cryptographic hardware accelerators. The course then dives into implementing core cryptographic operations—symmetric encryption (AES), message authentication (CMAC/HMAC), hashing (SHA), and elliptic curve cryptography (ECC)—directly on the hardware.

Special focus is placed on secure key management, including protected key generation, import/export, key wrapping, and lifecycle operations within the HSM. Learners will also implement end-to-end secure boot flows with firmware authentication using ECC-based digital signatures.

A dedicated module covers certificate-based authentication using X.509 certificates and ECC key pairs, enabling secure ECU identity verification and data integrity in embedded systems. The final capstone project brings together these concepts in a working implementation of secure boot, cryptographic services, and mutual authentication between two nodes using hardware-backed security.

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🎯 Key Learning Outcomes:

• Understand and configure the HSM architecture and partitions in S32K3xx.

• Implement AES, CMAC, SHA, and ECC operations using HSM crypto services.

• Execute secure key management tasks: key generation, import, wrapping, and deletion.

• Implement Secure Boot using firmware signing and HSM-based verification.

• Perform mutual authentication using X.509 certificates and ECC signatures.

• Build complete embedded security workflows using S32 Design Studio.

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🛠️ Tools & Platforms:

• NXP S32K3xx Evaluation Kit (e.g., S32K344)

• NXP S32 Design Studio and HSM SDK

• OpenSSL and custom host tools for certificate handling

• UART, CAN, or other communication protocols for data exchange

• FreeRTOS or bare-metal environments for firmware development

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This course is ideal for embedded engineers, firmware developers, and system integrators who aim to build production-grade secure embedded systems using the built-in hardware security capabilities of NXP’s automotive microcontrollers.