How to Mitigate Risk When Migrating from Ultrascale/UltraScale+ to Versal™

Migrating from UltraScale or UltraScale+ to Versal™ unlocks advanced performance capabilities, including real-time AI processing and broad system integration options. But the transition also brings architectural changes that impact your codebase and design strategy. Whether you’re aiming to preserve legacy functionality or expand into new application areas, this migration introduces a level of complexity that requires thoughtful planning.

By understanding and preparing for migration challenges early, engineering teams can mitigate risk and take full advantage of everything Versal offers.

What are the security features of Versal?

Versal devices are designed with robust, hardware-based security features to protect intellectual property and ensure system integrity throughout the device lifecycle. These features support secure deployment in high-performance, high-reliability environments. Key capabilities include:

• Secure boot with hardware root of trust, ensuring only authenticated code is executed
• Bitstream encryption and authentication to prevent cloning and reverse engineering
• Physical tamper detection to identify and respond to unauthorized access
• Runtime monitoring for detecting and addressing active threats
• Isolated key management to safeguard cryptographic materials during operation

These integrated protections help engineers minimize risk when migrating to Versal and support compliance with evolving security requirements.

Technical Strategies for a Smoother Migration

Once you’ve assessed the security requirements of your Versal deployment, the next step is preparing your design environment for migration. Moving from UltraScale or UltraScale+ to Versal isn’t a simple lift-and-shift — it requires deliberate adjustments to architecture, timing, and more.

The following technical strategies can help you avoid common roadblocks and set a strong development foundation:

• Integrate your code into example designs, or use them as a guide when modifying your existing codebase
• Address design constraints early in the process, especially pin density and signal integrity
• Update clock configurations and verify timing constraints across the new architecture
• Use the Network-on-Chip (NoC) to manage data flow efficiently
• Run simulations early using Versal-specific models to validate behavior and performance
• Stick with the same silicon vendor when possible to reduce compatibility and porting challenges

These strategies give your team a clearer path forward, reducing rework and accelerating the transition.

Hardware Integration: Build Internally or Start with a Proven Platform?

Migrating to Versal involves two key steps: first, integrating a Versal ASoC onto a board, and second, using that ASoC for development. While every engineer must work with Versal once it’s on the board, not every team needs to handle the challenge of getting it there.

This raises an important question: should you design in-house or opt for a prepackaged FPGA solution to accelerate development? 

In-house development offers full control, but it also requires significant expertise and carries technical risk. Engineers typically need six months to a year of training to become proficient with Versal toolchains – a costly investment that could delay development timelines.

While engineers still need to learn new toolchains, they could have the board in-hand when they’re ready to migrate rather than needing to design and build the board before they can begin using Versal.

Prepackaged FPGA solutions reduce design time and accelerate time to market. Vendors provide boards with pre-integrated PCIe, Ethernet, AI, and security features. Some can even port UltraScale/UltraScale+ to Versal for you. New Wave Design, for example, helps engineering teams get up to speed with Versal by providing example designs mapped to our board.

Make Your Migration Count

Versal opens the door to powerful new capabilities, but reaching that potential requires careful planning and the right development approach. By following proven migration strategies and choosing a platform that reduces design risk, you can stay focused on innovation instead of worrying about infrastructure.

New Wave Design offers prepackaged FPGA solutions and example designs to help you ramp up quickly and migrate with confidence. Contact our team to start discussing your transition to Versal with a platform built to accelerate success.