Testing of security systems in integrated circuits

Abstract

An integrated circuit includes a secure asset, a security system, and an efficacy decoder. The security system is triggered to operate in one of its functional states. Further, the security system receives various test requests for an access to the secure asset, and determines, based on the triggered functional state thereof, one or more test requests authorized to access the secure asset. The efficacy decoder similarly receives the test requests and determines one or more allowable requests for the triggered functional state of the security system. Further, the efficacy decoder determines an efficacy value for the security system based on a comparison between the test requests authorized by the security system and the allowable requests associated with the triggered functional state. The efficacy value is indicative of a security level of the security system operating in the triggered functional state.