3.1 AES on the SAM D5x/E5x and HSM on the PIC32CX SG60/SG61

AES and HSM serve for security purposes, but both of them operate in distinct manners. The AES module on the SAM D5x/E5x family of devices offer encryption and decryption capabilities using the AES algorithm. In contrast, the HSM in the PIC32CX SG is a more comprehensive security module that supports AES encryption, other cryptographic functions, and security features.

Table 3-1. AES and HSM Comparison
SAM D5x/E5x (AES)PIC32CX SG (HSM)
PerformanceHardware acceleration for AES operations, which significantly improves the speed and efficiency of cryptographic operations compared to software implementations.Provides hardware acceleration for multiple cryptographic algorithms, not just AES (also provides support for SHA, RSA, and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC)) which enhances the overall security performance of the system.
Features
  • ECB, CBC, CTR, and GCM are some modes of operation supported by AES.
  • DMA Support.
  • Advanced Crypto Engine (ACE) for Execution of All Cryptography Commands.
  • AES, RSA, SHA, and ECC are some of the cryptographic operations.
  • ECDH, ECDHE, and ECBD are some of the Key Agreement Supports on HSM.
  • Secure Boot.