Broadcom's Latest Security Processors Combine Protocol Processing, Cryptographic Acceleration

Broadcom unveiled its next-generation line of security processors that combine IP Security (IPSec) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol processing, cryptographic acceleration, and hardware-based identity management and authentication into a single-chip solution. The devices could be used for applications such as enterprise routing and e-commerce transactions and are optimized for SSL-based appliances, firewall appliances, and mid- to high-end virtual private networks (VPNs).


Broadcom's BroadSAFE technology enables OEMs to build Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS)-certified systems with strong key management and identity management functionality, while significantly reducing the cost of traditional security implementations.


Three new security protocol processors (the BCM5860, BCM5861 and BCM5862) were introduced that include either PCI-X or PCI Express host bus architectures. Each of these new chips provides high-performance cryptographic acceleration and the ability to offload a significant amount of security processing functions from the host processor, resulting in higher performance and optimal CPU utilization.


Broadcom said these these new devices provide a significant performance and security advantages over standard cryptographic processors due to their ability to support advanced protocol processing and their BroadSAFE functionality. The performance can reach up to 2 Gbps of IPSec protocol processing and 14,000 RSA transactions per second. The CryptoNetX security protocol processors offer direct handling of IPv4 and IPv6 packets in IPSec applications, as well as SSL record processing support. As a result, they can be seamlessly integrated into customer VPN and SSL applications.
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