Logic Locking in Future IC Supply Chain Environments

Despite its potential as an effective mechanism for instilling trust in the hardware design flow, logic locking has not been widely adopted in the semiconductor industry. This limited adoption can be attributed to two main factors: the lack of attack resiliency and the absence of a formal modeling framework to evaluate the efficacy of this countermeasure. Over time, for multiple reasons, the robustness and reliability of logic locking have been weakened, demonstrating the need for better futuristic directions against advanced and evolving threat surfaces and cutting-edge technologies. In this chapter, we first focus on the main vulnerabilities and shortcomings of logic locking. We then discuss the requirements for efficient and secure logic locking techniques, including robustness to attacks, scalability for large designs, and the ability to be used in commercial settings. With a detailed discussion, we draw some potential futuristic research directions that must be defined to address such shortcomings. Focusing on these future research directions, every designer can work toward providing a secure yet efficient logic locking solution that can be used particularly in commercial settings.