The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and embedded systems—such as autonomous vehicles, smart home security systems, wearable health monitors, and smart factory equipment—continues to accelerate. Estimates suggest that by 2025, there will be over 41.6 billion IoT devices in use.

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These devices commonly utilize microcontrollers (MCUs) and various types of processors, including embedded processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific instruction-set processors (ASIPs), and media processors. The vast majority are interconnected through communication networks, rendering them susceptible to cyber threats. Notably, devices connected to advanced 5G networks, which offer speeds up to 10 Gbps, face significant challenges in running traditional security software due to resource constraints.

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To address these vulnerabilities, it is imperative to implement cybersecurity measures at the processor level within IoT and embedded systems operating on ultra-high-speed networks. This approach ensures that security is not merely an optional feature but a mandatory safeguard, providing robust protection against potential threats inherent in the rapidly expanding IoT landscape.