Protect Your IoT Devices, Really
June 27, 2023
Blog
It took a little explaining for me to understand this one, but now it makes sense, a lot of sense.
Infineon recently launched its Edge Protect security solution that consists of four categories of products aimed at IoT applications. Basically, each category, one through four, builds on the previous category. In other words, category 2 is equal to category 1, plus additional features. And so on.
The categories fit the company’s PSoC and AIROC product family of products. The four categories include (but not limited to):
- Category 1: CRA/RED/PSA Certified Level 1v2 compliant and requires a root of trust (RoT), secured boot, firmware updates, and debug access protection to secure OEM IP
- Category 2: Requires Category 1 features plus Arm Trust Zone processing isolation, the TF-M security services stack and sufficient internal memory or a secured, external-flash, serial-memory interface, and PSA Certified Level 2 compliant
- Category 3: Requires Category 2 features plus hardened accelerated crypto operations and fault sensors, plus PSA Certified Level 3 compliant
- Category 4: SESIP/PSA Certified Level 3 but includes a hardware-isolated, lockstep redundant, secured enclave at an AVA.VAN.4 security rating for secured boot, key storage, crypto operations, and debug access control.
In the discussions about this announcement, Infineon showed me the results of an ABI Research study showing that less than 4% of new IoT devices contain sufficient security. 4%!
Compliance is included for specific use cases (all are included in Category 4), as seen in the image. They also outline specific attack types, and that list wil grow as more attacks occur.
The Edge Protect portfolio is compatible with Infineon’s latest ModusToolbox 3.1 development platform that provides developers with an extensible development environment that supports a wide range of Infineon MCUs. This release extends the covered to more traditional embedded applications that employ the company’s XMC, EZ-PD, and PMG1 microcontrollers.
Edge Protect is available immediately.
Rich Nass is a regular contributor to Embedded Computing Design. He has appeared on more than 500 episodes of the popular Embedded Executive podcast series, and is a regular contributor to the Embedded Insiders podcast.
Rich has been in the engineering OEM industry for more than 35 years, and is a recognized expert in the areas of embedded computing, Edge AI, industrial computing, the IoT, and cyber-resiliency and safety and security issues. He writes and speaks regularly on these topics and more.
Rich is currently the Liaison to Industry for the Embedded World North America Exhibition and Conference, and has held similar positions with the global Embedded World Conference and Exhibition.
Previously, Rich was the Brand Director for UBM’s award-winning Design News property. Prior to that, he led the content team for UBM Canon’s Medical Devices Group, as well all custom properties and events. In prior stints, he led the Content Team at EE Times, handling the Embedded and Custom groups and the TechOnline DesignLine network of design engineering web sites.
Nass holds a BSEE degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
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