Silicon Labs has made a significant move in IoT security by becoming the first company to achieve PSA Level 4 certification, the highest standard currently recognised by PSA Certified. This certification was awarded to the Secure Vault subsystem embedded in the company’s new SiXG301 SoC, the first product in its next-generation Series 3 portfolio.
This milestone puts Silicon Labs in a unique position as regulatory requirements for connected devices tighten globally. It also marks the continuation of a trend: the company was previously first to reach PSA Levels 1, 2, and 3.
What Makes PSA Level 4 Different?
The PSA Certified framework was created to provide measurable benchmarks for embedded security, and Level 4 represents a significant leap. While earlier levels focused on software security and tamper resistance, Level 4 is about physical resilience against complex threats.
To pass, a product must withstand:
- Laser fault injection
- Side-channel attacks
- Voltage glitching
- Microprobing
These are advanced techniques often seen in high-stakes, nation-state-level attack scenarios. While they were once theoretical, these attack types are increasingly being used in real-world hardware exploitation.
The SiXG301 and Secure Vault
The SiXG301 SoC, built on a 22nm process, debuts the latest version of Silicon Labs’ Secure Vault, a dedicated hardware-based security block that handles cryptography, key storage, and active protection. This version is designed not just for today’s attacks but for threats anticipated over the next decade.
According to Silicon Labs, the SoC supports secure over-the-air updates and continuous threat monitoring, which turns product security into an active lifecycle, not a static feature.
Partnering with Keysight for Validation
To validate its resilience, Silicon Labs worked with Keysight Technologies, who used side-channel analysis and other advanced fault injection tools to stress-test the device.
"Keysight is proud to have supported Silicon Labs in achieving the world's first PSA Level 4 certification," said Marc Witteman, Technical Director, Keysight Device Security Testing at Keysight Technologies. "Our advanced testing methodologies, including side-channel analysis and fault injection, were instrumental to validating the Series 3 Secure Vault on the SiXG301's resilience against today's most sophisticated threats. This milestone reflects our commitment to helping innovators like Silicon Labs meet the highest levels of security assurance and regulatory readiness in a rapidly evolving IoT landscape."
The successful audit further reinforces the SiXG301’s status as the most secure commercial IoT SoC to date.
Preparing for New Global Regulations
The certification comes just days after the EU’s updated Radio Equipment Directive (RED) came into effect on August 1, 2025, introducing stricter security requirements for connected devices. Other regions, including the US (Cyber Trust Mark) and Singapore (CLS), are enacting similar frameworks.
Silicon Labs has made it clear that its new platform is engineered for regulatory alignment, giving OEMs a head start on compliance. When Secure Vault is implemented correctly, it ticks the right boxes for RED and similar mandates.
Developers can register for an upcoming webinar, Stay Ahead of Global IoT Security Regulations with Silicon Labs, to learn how to integrate RED-ready security into their products.
Final Thoughts
Security has always been a major sticking point for IoT, and Silicon Labs’ achievement isn’t just a technical first. It’s a signal that embedded security is evolving fast, and certification is now a critical part of competitive advantage.
The SiXG301 is expected to become generally available in Q3 2025. All Series 3 products will incorporate the same Level 4-grade Secure Vault going forward.
To learn more and read the original announcement, click here.
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