The Secure Systems and Architectures (SAS) department secures electronic components and embedded architectures against hardware and software attacks. By combining threat modeling, countermeasure design, and experimental validation, it develops innovative solutions to protect circuits, embedded systems, and critical infrastructures. Its work ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of data by integrating security from the outset using a “secure by design” approach.
Head
Olivier Potin
Email: olivier.potin@mines-stetienne.fr
Telephone: +33 4 42 61 67 37
Areas of Expertise
The SAS department develops innovative approaches to protect hardware architectures and embedded systems against physical and software attacks.
Core Competencies
- Physical attack modeling (risk and vulnerability analysis).
- Development of hardware and software countermeasures (circuit security, embedded cryptography).
- Securing communications and critical infrastructures.
- Experimental validation of protections using advanced test benches.
- “Secure by design” approach to integrate security from the design phase.
Fields of activity
- Secure microelectronics: design of integrated circuits resistant to attacks.
- Embedded systems and IoT: protection of connected objects against cyber threats.
- Smart cards and secure transactions: payment and identification technologies.
- Cybersecurity of critical infrastructures: securing industrial and military systems.
- Validation and certification of electronic devices.
Research Areas
The SAS department structures its work around several research areas aimed at guaranteeing the security of electronic systems in the face of emerging attacks.
Analysis and modeling of physical attacks
Objective
Understand the mechanisms of hardware attacks (power analysis, fault injection) to anticipate circuit vulnerabilities.
Applications
Smart cards, microcontrollers, FPGAs, critical systems.
Development of hardware and software countermeasures
Objective
Design adapted protections to strengthen the resilience of electronic components against cyber threats.
Applications
Securing embedded architectures, advanced cryptography.
Infrastructure and communications security
Objective
Deploy protection solutions for industrial systems and embedded networks.
Applications
Internet of Things (IoT), network cybersecurity, protection of critical systems.
Through this work, the SAS department plays a key role in anticipating threats and developing secure solutions for tomorrow’s technologies.
Research unit
The Secure Systems and Architectures (SAS) department is an essential component of the EC – SAS joint team, a joint research unit between Mines Saint-Étienne and the CEA. Its expertise in securing hardware architectures and embedded systems contributes directly to the unit’s work by modeling threats, designing innovative countermeasures, and developing experimental validation methodologies. Through its research on physical attacks (power analysis, fault injection) and the protection of electronic circuits, the SAS department enables the research unit to offer advanced security solutions adapted to current hardware cybersecurity challenges. Its “secure by design” approach, which integrates security from the system design phase, strengthens the reliability of technologies developed within the SAS joint team, in response to the needs of strategic industries and critical infrastructures.
The SAS department develops innovative solutions to anticipate threats, secure embedded architectures, and strengthen the resilience of electronic systems, meeting the challenges of strategic industries and critical infrastructures.
Contact and Practical Information
- Head
Olivier Potin
Email: olivier.potin@mines-stetienne.fr
Telephone: +33 4 4 42 61 67 37 - Administration
Barbara Bruno
Email: barbara.bruno@mines-stetienne.fr
Phone: +33 4 42 61 66 40
- Address
École des mines de Saint-Étienne
Centre of Microelectronics in Provence
880, route de Mimet
13541 Gardanne, France - Transportation
Bus
Line 183, “Centre Charpak” stop
Train
From Gardanne station, regular shuttles via line 3
Airport
Connections from Marseille Provence Airport