The application security unit (ASU) subsystem includes a RISC-V processor with AES, ECC, SHA2, SHA3, SHAKE, TRNG, and RSA crypto accelerators. It also includes support for a key vault and an interface to the PL for extending crypto functionality. AMD provides firmware drivers to support these features. The ASU accelerates runtime crypto operations. It acts as the key storage unit for runtime applications running in the APU, RPU, or processors instantiated within the PL.
The PLM firmware loads the ASU firmware during the boot process. The system performs this in a secure manner with authentication and/or decryption. The ASU resides in the LPD. For more information on the ASU, refer to the Versal AI Edge Series Gen 2 and Prime Series Gen 2 Technical Reference Manual (AM026).