The majority of standard cyber security solutions rely on custom software being executed on commercial servers to process network and computer data for security problem detection, alerting and response. But large enterprises and CSPs typically require more processing horsepower than standard compute solutions provide. For high-performance network security solutions, FPGA technology has become increasingly vital. Also referred to as Field Programmable Gate Arrays, FPGAs provide exponential increases in processing capabilities that server-based options cannot match. FPGA-based security solutions can provide a wide range of ways to process network and computer data that are worth exploring.
History of Processors
CPUs and GPUs (processor/memory compute architectures) have been around for decades and while they maintain some functional similarities to FPGA technology, there are a couple key fundamental differences. The first clear-cut differentiator is how the two are presented: Processors are fixed, FPGAs are blank slates.
Processors fetch and compute data out of memory before being processed and are given their instructions by software, whether purchased, open source, or custom created. They are given a specific instruction set or sets and are locked to that fixed function. CPUs have strong processing flexibility this way because you can augment their software with all types of functions. Processors come in all prices and sizes. It all depends on what task that CPU or GPU has been given.
The Benefits of FPGA: Breaking Things Down
One of the most important things to understand about FPGA has to do with how it relates to the CPUs and GPUs that most people are used to working with. CPUs and GPUs are instruction-based architectures. They’re general purpose – which is what makes them easier to attack via software-based methods.
An FPGA, on the other hand, is a reconfigurable integrated circuit. The difference is instruction-based hardware like CPUs and GPUs are configured via software. FPGAs, on the other hand, are configured by specifying a hardware circuit.
What this means is not only do operators have more control over their hardware by design, but it’s also a much more difficult situation to take advantage of from the point of view of a computer hacker. Rather than executing a process in software – meaning using the processor itself – this new configuration executes it in an FPGA-based accelerator. This skips the processor altogether.
Lest we forget the importance of power in performance. Not many processors are able to keep up with today’s speeds and volumes of traffic. This is where some may say FPGAs shine most; consistent functionality at-scale.
A More Forward-Thinking Approach to Security
In terms of security, this approach offers a number of distinct advantages, including the fact that it’s simply harder to hack what you don’t know. Unlike in CPU and GPU-based environments, the final design of a system is very unlikely to be publicly documented. This means that rather than writing general purpose malware an attacker would essentially need to reverse engineer the system itself. Not only is this incredibly difficult, but few would be willing to go to this effort, leaving them to move onto other targets.
FPGAs are also far easier to secure than their counterparts because the system designers are in complete control of the architecture at all times. An off-the-shelf CPU, for example, gives almost no control to the designer. You choose an option based on your needs and you’re left to deal with it, essentially as-is.
With FPGA technology, however, hardware designers are in total control over all logic implemented in the FPGA itself. Full customization of the system falls to you, as opposed to random decisions someone was making prior to you purchasing a product off-the-shelf. This allows you to make choices to protect against the specific threats you’re likely to face, as opposed to forcing you to exist within a “one size fits all” approach to security that doesn’t really exist. This is a big part of the reason why FPGAs are so common in data centers, for example.
Specific Problems Require Specific Solutions
None of this is to say FPGAs are an absolutely perfect approach to security because they do come with certain downsides. For example, when executed on a CPU, software is far more flexible by its nature. This makes it easier to change and easier to adjust to your specific use case. Whereas, the uniqueness of the task-driven FPGA requires unique tools to create, special skills to program, and by its distinctive content makes it more difficult to hack than standard software with their common vulnerabilities. If absolute speed and enhanced security are a requirement, FPGAs are an ideal option.
So while it’s safe to say there is truly no “one size fits all” approach to definitive security in the modern era, it’s equally true that FPGAs offer distinct advantages that other methods lack. Therefore, if security and speed are priorities in your environment, FPGAs are absolutely the way to go.