Cryptography Research
Cryptography Research is a semiconductor security R&D and licensing company specializing in silicon-proven hardware security IP for chip manufacturers and SoC designers. The company protects over 2 billion chips and devices annually across data center, automotive, government, and IoT applications.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Cryptography Research does
Cryptography Research is a semiconductor security R&D and licensing company specializing in silicon-proven hardware security intellectual property (IP) for the global semiconductor industry. The company operates as the security IP division within Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ: RMBS), with Cryptography Research founded in 1995 and headquartered in San Francisco. Its portfolio protects data at rest, in motion, and in use across the semiconductor lifecycle, with core offerings spanning Root of Trust IP, Quantum Safe Cryptography, Inline Memory Encryption, Secure Networking IP (MACsec, IPsec, TLS), DPA/FIA side-channel countermeasures, Crypto Accelerator cores, Anti-Counterfeiting IP, Security Software Toolkits, and Provisioning/Key Management infrastructure. The company's secure provisioning infrastructure protects over two billion chips and devices per year, demonstrating significant deployed scale.
Underlying technology centers on cryptographic cores, side-channel attack resistance techniques, post-quantum cryptography implementations aligned with NIST and CNSA standards, and secure silicon provisioning flows. Key certifications include FIPS 140 CMVP, FIPS 140 CAVP, ISO 26262 for automotive functional safety, and Common Criteria EAL4+ for government applications — collectively forming a regulatory moat for high-assurance verticals. Notable sub-brands include CryptoManager (data center/AI protection platform) and RT-648 (Arm-based Root of Trust for automotive).
The business model is B2B semiconductor IP licensing with quote-based enterprise pricing on multi-year contracts, complemented by professional services including DPA countermeasure training, certification support, and integration services. Go-to-market targets chip manufacturers and SoC designers through direct enterprise sales and OEM/foundry partnerships across four primary verticals: Data Center/AI, Automotive, Government, and IoT. Revenue streams include silicon IP licensing and royalties, memory interface chip sales (at the Rambus parent level), and security IP professional services.
Cryptography Research firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cryptography Research
- Legal name
- Rambus Inc.
- Website
- https://cryptography.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Cryptography Research is a semiconductor security R&D and licensing company specializing in silicon-proven hardware security IP for chip manufacturers and SoC designers. The company protects over 2 billion chips and devices annually across data center, automotive, government, and IoT applications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cryptography Research industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Semiconductor Security IP
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Patent Owners & Lessors (6794)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Secure Elements & Trusted Execution Processors (TPM/TEE/Crypto MCUs) (HDAHAJAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Quantum Cryptography & Post-Quantum/Quantum-Safe Security Research (HDAGAMAI)
Keywords
Where Cryptography Research is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cryptography Research business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Silicon IP Licensing: Licensing of semiconductor intellectual property including security IP cores, interface IP, and protocol engines to chip manufacturers and SoC designers.
- Memory Interface Chips: Sale of semiconductor chips including DDR5/DDR4 server DIMM chipsets, client chipsets, and CXL memory solutions.
- Security IP Services: Professional services including DPA countermeasure training, security certifications support, and integration services for security IP solutions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Quote-based enterprise licensing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Cryptography Research product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cryptography Research is a semiconductor security R&D and licensing company developing and licensing hardware security intellectual property for chip manufacturers and system-on-chip (SoC) designers. Its portfolio includes silicon-proven Root of Trust, Quantum Safe Cryptography, Inline Memory Encryption, Secure Networking IP (MACsec/IPsec/TLS), DPA and FIA countermeasures, Crypto Accelerator cores, anti-counterfeiting IP, and secure provisioning infrastructure that protects over two billion chips and devices per year.
Product overview
Rambus offers a comprehensive semiconductor and IP product portfolio organized across three main divisions: Memory Interface Chips (DDR5/DDR4 Server and Client chipsets, SOCAMM2, LPCAMM2), Silicon IP (Interface IP including PCIe, CXL, MIPI, HBM, GDDR, LPDDR, DDR, VESA Video Compression, Forward Error Correction), and Security IP. The Security IP portfolio is the most extensive, comprising nine core product categories: Root of Trust IP (programmable secure co-processors with FIPS 140 CMVP and ISO 26262 certifications), Quantum Safe Cryptography IP (NIST/CNSA compliant against quantum threats), Inline Memory Encryption IP (ultra-low latency memory protection), Secure Networking IP (MACsec, IPsec, TLS protocol engines), DPA and FIA Countermeasures (side-channel attack protection), Crypto Accelerator IP (DPA/FIA protected cryptographic cores with FIPS 140 CAVP and Common Criteria EAL4+), Anti-Counterfeiting IP (hardware-based IP protection), Security Software Protocols and Toolkits (FIPS-certified libraries), and Provisioning and Key Management (supply chain protection). The company protects over two billion chips and devices per year through its secure provisioning infrastructure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CryptoManager: Security IP platform for data center and AI protection solutions
- RT-648
Products and services
- Root of Trust IP
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 2 billion chips and devices protected per year
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Cryptography Research
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cryptography Research technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Cryptography Research partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Semiconductor FoundriescoreSemiconductor manufacturing partners integrating Rambus security IP into customer silicon designs through foundry relationships.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cryptography Research competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Synopsys: Synopsys is the largest semiconductor IP vendor and offers the DesignWare Security IP portfolio including crypto cores, Root of Trust, and secure protocol engines. It is the most direct competitor to Cryptography Research in silicon security IP licensing across both merchant semiconductor customers and ASIC designers.
- Cadence Design Systems: Cadence offers a comprehensive IP portfolio including security and protocol engines through its Cadence IP group, directly competing in the silicon IP licensing market. The company serves overlapping automotive, data center, and IoT customer segments with comparable cryptographic and secure boot offerings.
- Secure-IC: Secure-IC specializes in embedded security IP for semiconductors with deep expertise in side-channel analysis and fault injection protection, closely matching Cryptography Research's DPA/FIA countermeasures portfolio. It serves similar SoC customers in automotive, IoT, payments, and government markets.
- PQShield: PQShield is a pure-play post-quantum cryptography company offering both software and hardware IP solutions aligned with NIST PQC standards. It directly competes with Cryptography Research's Quantum Safe Cryptography IP in the emerging market for NIST-standardized algorithm implementations.
Broad incumbents
- ARM: ARM offers TrustZone and Cortex-M security extensions embedded in billions of shipped processors, serving as a broad incumbent in hardware security for Arm-based SoCs. While not focused exclusively on cryptographic IP, its architectural security offerings create a complementary or competing layer depending on customer design choices.
- NXP Semiconductors: NXP is a major supplier of secure elements and secure microcontrollers serving payments, automotive, and IoT markets. Its broad chip business competes with Cryptography Research's licensees in some end-applications while NXP itself uses third-party security IP internally.
- Microchip Technology: Microchip produces secure microcontrollers and FIPS-certified crypto elements for industrial, automotive, and IoT markets through its portfolio including Atmel and Microsemi. It is a broad semiconductor incumbent with security IP integrated into its own MCUs, occasionally competing with third-party IP licensing models.
Emerging players
- Intrinsic ID: Intrinsic ID specializes in Physical Unclonable Function (PUF)-based hardware security IP for device authentication and key generation. It competes in the Root of Trust and anti-counterfeiting segments where Cryptography Research offers overlapping hardware-based security primitives.
- Crypto4A: Crypto4A develops quantum-safe Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) and crypto-agile security infrastructure. It addresses adjacent quantum-safe cryptography needs though focused on enterprise HSM deployment rather than embedded IP licensing.
Others
- Winbond Electronics: Winbond is a specialty memory IC maker that has collaborated with Rambus on secure Flash memory and trusted execution environments. It is an ecosystem participant and potential licensee rather than a direct competitor, illustrating the broader secure hardware ecosystem Cryptography Research operates within.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cryptography Research social profiles
Digital presenceCryptography Research compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Cryptography Research financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cryptography Research leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Cryptography Research funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cryptography Research M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cryptography Research
What does Cryptography Research do?
Cryptography Research is a semiconductor security R&D and licensing company developing and licensing hardware security intellectual property for chip manufacturers and system-on-chip (SoC) designers. Its portfolio includes silicon-proven Root of Trust, Quantum Safe Cryptography, Inline Memory Encryption, Secure Networking IP (MACsec/IPsec/TLS), DPA and FIA countermeasures, Crypto Accelerator cores, anti-counterfeiting IP, and secure provisioning infrastructure that protects over two billion chips and devices per year.
Is Cryptography Research a public or private company?
Cryptography Research is a public company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Cryptography Research founded?
Cryptography Research was founded in 1990. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Cryptography Research based?
Cryptography Research is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cryptography Research make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Silicon IP Licensing is the primary driver. The others are memory Interface Chips and security IP Services.
Who are Cryptography Research's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Synopsys, Cadence Design Systems, Secure-IC and PQShield. Broad incumbents are ARM, NXP Semiconductors and Microchip Technology. Emerging players are Intrinsic ID and Crypto4A. Winbond Electronics is listed as an others.
Does Cryptography Research have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cryptography Research.
What industry is Cryptography Research in?
Cryptography Research's product category is Semiconductor Security IP. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAJAK, Secure Elements & Trusted Execution Processors (TPM/TEE/Crypto MCUs), with a secondary code of HDAGAMAI, Quantum Cryptography & Post-Quantum/Quantum-Safe Security Research. Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 6794.