An NFC device may include a first and second controller interfaces, a first communication channel coupled to the first controller interface, and a second communication channel connected to the second controller interface. A secure element may include a secure element interface connected to the first communication channel and encryption/decryption circuitry configured to encrypt data to be sent on the first communication channel for being framed into the encrypted frames and to decrypt encrypted data extracted from the encrypted frames and received from the first communication channel. The secure element may also include management circuitry configured to control the encryption/decryption circuitry for managing the encrypted communication with the NFC controller. A device host may include a host device interface coupled to the second controller interface and control means or circuitry configured to control the management circuitry through non-encrypted commands exchanged on the first and second communication channels.