Method for designing a device for a cryptographic application

A method for designing a device for performing a multiplication of polynomials in a cryptographic application, the method comprising:

• dividing the performance of said multiplication of polynomials over at least two data processing stages of said device,
• wherein at least one data processing stage is arranged to receive an input operand to perform said multiplication and at least one data processing stage is arranged to provide an output signal of said multiplication,
• defining for each data processing stage one or more parameters related to representation of data to be processed in that data processing stage,
• defining one or more constraints for said output signal,
• determining for each data processing stage individually a value for said one or more parameters wherein said one or more constraints are taken into account,
• applying the determined values for said one or more parameters in each of said data processing stages in said device for performing said multiplication of polynomials in said cryptographic application.