Security certification

Security certification is an independent third-party assessment that verifies a product met defined security criteria. It gives a measurable way to compare security claims. In the crypto context it usually applies to hardware devices and their key components. Common Criteria is the most widely used international framework for such evaluations. It defines Evaluation Assurance Levels from EAL1 to EAL7. Higher EAL numbers require more rigorous evidence and testing. EAL5 and above are often used for protecting highly sensitive data. Secure Element chips are the same class of component used in payment cards, digital IDs and mobile SIMs. These chips are designed to resist both remote and direct physical attacks. Certification evaluates multiple areas of a product. Evaluators review supply chain controls and life cycle processes. They inspect development procedures and the quality of documentation. They run functional tests to ensure features behave as specified. They also conduct penetration tests against realistic attacker models. The threat model assessed typically includes an attacker with remote access and one with some physical access. Certification provides public assurance that these checks were performed by an independent lab. It reduces the need to trust vendor marketing alone. Multiple certification schemes exist besides Common Criteria. National and regional schemes may add different requirements or focus areas. Certification scope matters a lot. Sometimes a certification covers only a chip or only a single software module. Sometimes it covers the entire device stack from hardware to application. Users should check what exactly was evaluated. Certification is not a magic guarantee of invulnerability. It is a rigorous snapshot taken under defined conditions. New software bugs and new attack techniques can appear after evaluation. Ongoing security means combining certified hardware with secure firmware, careful supply chain practices, continuous testing and public vulnerability disclosure programs. Trade-offs exist between higher assurance levels and cost, complexity or time to market. In many practical cases EAL5+ provides strong resistance to realistic attacks while higher levels add diminishing returns for most users. For anyone choosing a crypto hardware device, the right questions are simple. Ask what was certified, which lab assessed it, what threat model was used and whether the evaluation covered the full product. Combine that knowledge with good operational security like backups, physical safekeeping and cautious software practices.