DIGI-G4's CrypOTN Architecture Awarded FIPS 197 Certification

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., March 22, 2016 — (PRNewswire) —  Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC), a leading provider of semiconductor solutions differentiated by power, security, reliability and performance, today announced its DIGI-G4, the company's latest DIGI Optical Transport Network (OTN) processor enabling the transition to 400G OTN switching solutions, has been certified to the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 197. NIST's FIPS 197 is considered the global industry standard for secure data encryption in metro and datacenter interconnect optical transport infrastructure, serving the telecommunications, financial, healthcare and government markets.

With DIGI-G4's integrated OTN encryption engine certification with NIST Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)-256, Microsemi is enabling optical layer encryption at 100G into networks worldwide. Used in conjunction with Microsemi's SmartFusion^™2 system-on-chip (SoC) field programmable gate array (FPGA) as its root of trust, DIGI-G4 delivers the necessary components of a highly secure encryption-enabled line cards needed for packet optical transport equipment.

"The mass migration of data to the cloud is driving the industry to respond with a security solution for the optical layer interconnecting datacenters and enterprises worldwide. We responded by integrating the encryption engine into our DIGI-G4 platform in order to deliver the lowest latency wire-speed encryption offering, regardless of client or traffic type," said Babak Samimi, vice president and business unit manager of Microsemi's communications business unit. "By taking the lead in securing FIPS 197 certification, the ecosystem can leverage our effort and focus on accelerating time to market for the new class of security enabled optical platforms."

According to market research firm IHS, security is the top concern customers raise when deciding to use off-premises cloud services. In addition, the Ponemon Institute estimates the total annualized cost of cybercrime can reach as high as $65 million per organization. Of the 252 companies surveyed, physical layers and data layers combined represent approximately 40 percent of information technology security budget spending.

"AES encryption is the de facto standard for securing data in enterprise, datacenter, telecom, financial, healthcare and government markets," said Clifford Grossner, Ph.D., senior research director of data center, cloud and SDN at IHS and author of its aforementioned research report. "Optical layer encryption is emerging as a key requirement for network operators in the cloud era, and Microsemi's FIPS 197 achievement with DIGI-G4 will enable it to address this market requirement."

DIGI-G4's integrated FIPS 197 certified, low latency, multi-rate, service-agnostic OTN encryption engine allows cloud and communications service providers to ensure the security of data 'in-flight' without compromising network and service performance. The device supports sub-180ns end-to-end optical layer encryption and enables flexible encrypted service models, including the industry's first sub-wavelength OTN encryption solution, which makes encrypted services compatible with the OTN switched networks that are fast becoming the backbone of optical networks worldwide.  

The combination of Microsemi's DIGI-G4 and highly secure, low power SmartFusion2 SoC FPGA provide significant security capabilities for customers. SmartFusion2's integrated secure host central processing unit (CPU) supports Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)-based authentication architectures and provides the secure key storage required to set up and manage end-to-end encrypted optical links. SmartFusion2 also delivers secure boot functionality for existing non-secure host CPUs as well as differential power analysis (DPA) countermeasures, protecting against the threat of side-channel attacks. These capabilities are enabling new classes of low-power, high-capacity transport platforms optimized specifically for the hyperscale data center WAN interconnect market.

Key differentiating features of DIGI-G4's OTN encryption engine:

• Ultralow latency (sub-180nsec)
• Industry's first sub-wavelength OTN encryption solution to secure the cloud
• Multi-service, wire-speed and rate agnostic encryption out performs protocol specific alternatives

Key differentiating features of SmartFusion2 SoC FPGA as the root of trust companion to DIGI-G4:

• Proven DPA counter measure protection
• True random number generator
• Physically unclonable function (PUF) for key storage
• PCIe Gen2 endpoints for seamless connectivity to host CPUs

Product Availability
Microsemi's DIGI-G4 is available for purchase orders now. For more information, visit www.microsemi.com/DIGI-G4info. For further product details, email Email Contact.

Product Demonstrations in Booth #2524 at OFC Feb. 22-24
Microsemi will be showcasing its DIGI-G4 at the upcoming Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC) Mar. 22-24, 2016, with product demonstrations offered in Microsemi's booth, #2524. The event, which will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, is the largest global conference and exhibition for optical communications and networking professionals, offering insights on the major trends and technology advances affecting the industry.

About Microsemi's Product Portfolio for Communications
Microsemi is a premier supplier of high value-add semiconductor, system and services for the enterprise, data center and telecom markets. Microsemi products enable customers to build secure, reliable and low power systems that can meet stringent requirements of next generation communication networks. Customers leverage Microsemi technologies to drive innovation in a range of applications including Broadband Access aggregation and gateways (FTTx, FTTdp, GPON, EPON, G.fast and DOCSIS3.1), Service provider Packet Optical Transport Networks (OTN), Carrier Ethernet Switches & Routers, Security gateways and firewalls; Wireless infrastructure (LTE-Advanced, small cells, microwave and millimeter wave backhaul), Enterprise Networks (Core and aggregation switches,  Enterprise access routers, Wi-Fi and small cell controller and Wi-Fi access points) and Home Automation Network (enabling smart IoT products).

Microsemi's comprehensive communications portfolio offers market-leading technology and solutions in multiple product categories including high accuracy timing and synchronization systems, software, components and services; Carrier Ethernet switches, Framer and PHY, power-efficient and multi-standard compliant Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) systems and components, OTN Processors & Carrier Ethernet / OTN framers, G.hn, G.fast and xDSL line drivers; voice and audio intelligence, lowest power FPGAs with highest security and single event upset (SEU) immune fabric, security portfolio of hardware and software products including advanced multi-layer encryption, sophisticated key management, secure authentication with anti-tamper and anti-cloning capabilities; 100 Gigabits optical drivers and the most integrated Wi-Fi front-end modules (FEM). For more information, visit http://www.microsemi.com/applications/communications.

About Microsemi
Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor and system solutions for communications, defense & security, aerospace and industrial markets. Products include high-performance and radiation-hardened analog mixed-signal integrated circuits, FPGAs, SoCs and ASICs; power management products; timing and synchronization devices and precise time solutions, setting the world's standard for time; voice processing devices; RF solutions; discrete components; enterprise storage and communication solutions, security technologies and scalable anti-tamper products; Ethernet solutions; Power-over-Ethernet ICs and midspans; as well as custom design capabilities and services. Microsemi is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, Calif., and has approximately 4,800 employees globally. Learn more at www.microsemi.com.

Microsemi and the Microsemi logo are registered trademarks or service marks of Microsemi Corporation and/or its affiliates. Third-party trademarks and service marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Any statements set forth in this news release that are not entirely historical and factual in nature, including without limitation statements related to DIGI-G4 , the company's latest DIGI Optical Transport Network (OTN) processor enabling the transition to 400G OTN switching solutions, has been certified to United States National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 197, and its potential effects on future business, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as rapidly changing technology and product obsolescence, potential cost increases, variations in customer order preferences, weakness or competitive pricing environment of the marketplace, uncertain demand for and acceptance of the company's products, adverse circumstances in any of our end markets, results of in-process or planned development or marketing and promotional campaigns, difficulties foreseeing future demand, potential non-realization of expected orders or non-realization of backlog, product returns, product liability, and other potential unexpected business and economic conditions or adverse changes in current or expected industry conditions, difficulties and costs of protecting patents and other proprietary rights, inventory obsolescence and difficulties regarding customer qualification of products. In addition to these factors and any other factors mentioned elsewhere in this news release, the reader should refer as well to the factors, uncertainties or risks identified in the company's most recent Form 10-K and all subsequent Form 10-Q reports filed by Microsemi with the SEC. Additional risk factors may be identified from time to time in Microsemi's future filings. The forward-looking statements included in this release speak only as of the date hereof, and Microsemi does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.