At Renesas, we are committed to helping our customers unlock the opportunities created by the Internet of Things (IoT) and minimize the risks of operating in increasingly connected environments. We have been building security into our microcontroller units (MCUs) for over a decade, and we have been proud supporters of PSA Certified since its inception. Today, Renesas holds nine different PSA Certified certifications, including our leading-edge products, which have been independently assessed as being examples of best practice.
How Arm-based PSA Certified Solutions Enable Industrial, Retail, and Consumer Applications
The RA8M1, RA8D1, and RA8T1 have all been certified as PSA Certified Level 3 Root of Trust Components with Security Evaluation Standard for IoT Platforms (SESIP™) Assurance Level 3 (SESIP3). The first microcontrollers based on the Arm Cortex-M85 core, these three MCU Groups offer breakthrough performance for compute-intensive general purpose, graphics, and motor control applications whilst providing a physically hardened Root of Trust.
Our RZ/G2L series of MCUs are designed for industrial applications, including access control systems, IoT gateways, barcode scanners and cameras. They are equipped with the Arm® Cortex®-A55 central processing unit (CPU) and have achieved PSA Certified Level 2 security certification. They have also met the requirements for Security Evaluation Standard for IoT Platforms (SESIP) Assurance Level 2 (SESIP2).
The RZ/V2L microprocessor with Renesas’ built-in AI accelerator is also equipped with the Arm Cortex-A55 CPU and has PSA Certified Level 2 and SESIP2 certifications. They can be used in a range of industrial, retail and consumer applications, from mobile robots, to point of sale terminals and object and intruder detection devices.
Renesas’ RA6M4 MCU Group of 32-bit Arm Cortex-M33 devices for IoT applications have met the requirements for PSA Certified Level 2, while the RA4 and RA6 Series and Renesas Synergy™ S5 Series MCUs have been certified at PSA Certified Level 1. The DA147xx family of multi-core wireless microcontrollers for the smart home, industry and wearables has also achieved Level 1 certification.
Most recently, the RA4L1 MCU Group, RA8E2 MCU Group, and RA8E1 MCU Group have all achieved PSA Certified Level 1, including a conformity assessment of EU Cybersecurity Resilience Act (CRA) requirements, demonstrating alignment with government security regulations. The RA4L1 MCU Group, based on the Arm Cortex-M33 core with TrustZone, integrates low-power features, an advanced security engine, and communication interfaces that make these devices ideal for many Industrial Automation, Home Appliances, Smart Home, Consumer, Building/Home Automation and Medical/Healthcare applications. Based on the Arm Cortex-M85 core, the RA8 MCU Series addresses diverse high-performance and compute-intensive applications in industrial automation, building/home automation, and medical market segments.
The Value of PSA Certified
Renesas partnered with PSA Certified because we welcomed the founders’ commitment to simplifying security. However, the importance of our relationship with PSA Certified has increased over time. The number of cyberattacks on connected devices has risen considerably in recent years, and governments are now trying to protect individuals and businesses by insisting that security is built into products. Around the world, new security legislation and regulations are being introduced, and they are transforming the electronics industry. Security is going to be a very important topic.
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The connected device landscape is really going to change over 2025, mostly driven by legislative requirements. Security is going to be a very important topic.
The PSA Certified framework and assurance scheme aligns with the major security requirements (government and industry), which makes it quicker and easier for product manufacturers like us to achieve compliance. PSA Certified’s founders also keep up with changes in the regulatory environment, so the program develops in line with upcoming standards and legislation.
Security Certification Offers Our Customers Assurance
PSA Certified security certification offers another advantage – it has enabled us to demonstrate that we are building protection into our devices. An independent assessment of our security was conducted, and certification was awarded because we met critical security requirements. Renesas’ PSA Certified Level 1 certification, for example, proves that we followed security best practice and complied with security legislation and regulations. At PSA Certified Level 2, the certification confirms that an independent lab evaluated the PSA Root of Trust, and that the device is protected against scalable software attacks, which was an additional step that was import for us to achieve. PSA Certified Level 3 Root of Trust Component adds further robustness with enhanced with physical protection for secret cryptographic keys and operations.
I’ve highlighted the benefits of our partnership with PSA Certified in this video.