Are Emerging Memory Technologies Secure against Physical Attacks?

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Speaker 

Md Sadik Awal is a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Florida International University.

Abstract

Emerging non-volatile memory technologies such as ReRAM, MRAM, and FRAM promise higher density, faster operation, and greater energy efficiency compared to traditional memories, making them attractive for next-generation computing platforms. However, their unique device physics and circuit behaviors also introduce unexplored security implications. This webinar will present how physical attack vectors, particularly side-channel-based techniques, interact with these technologies. We will discuss how variations in impedance, power, and electromagnetic signatures may unintentionally leak sensitive information, and how these leakage pathways differ from those in conventional memories. The session will also highlight recent research findings, experimental observations, and open challenges, offering a perspective that connects device-level phenomena with system-level security.

Biography

Md Sadik Awal is a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA. He has been a Graduate Research Assistant in the SeRLoP Lab at FIU since 2022. His research focuses on hardware security, side-channel analysis, embedded systems, and signal processing, with particular emphasis on impedance-based leakage and secure memory architectures. He received his B.Sc. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 2021 and his M.Sc. in Computer Engineering from Florida International University in 2024 (en route to Ph.D.).