A system and a method for operating a non-volatile memory (NVM) device including a micro-controller adapted to control peripheral circuitry associated with an NVM array. The method includes providing at least one operation command to the micro-controller of the NVM device and applying operating signals to peripheral circuitry of the NVM device to operate the NVM array based on at least one operation command. The system includes: a NVM device (20) with a NVM array (28) adapted to store data and commands, peripheral circuitry (P 1 ...P n ) adapted to operate the NVM array and a micro-controller (24) adapted to control the peripheral circuitry; and an external device to provide at least one command to the micro-controller of the NVM device.