Security for embedded systems should not take a single-shot approach. Just because you’re covered in the design phase doesn’t mean your system will be secure all the way through manufacture. And then of course you have to worry about breaches after the product is out in the field and upgrades are needed, and end users are making Cloud connections on their own.

To that end, Sequitur Labs has released the next generation of its EmSPARK product, version 2.0, which offers a comprehensive approach to embedded system security, specifically targeting Edge-based IoT devices. This latest release features powerful security defenses for critical intellectual property (IP), secure chip-to-cloud integration, and over-the-air (OTA) firmware update protection.

EmSPARK 2.0 is built on three the pillars of product security—design, build, and sustain. As such, it gives device makers the firmware, tools, and APIs needed to properly execute IoT protection, all from a single vendor, thereby removing compatibility issues. In practice, it provides a security framework to ensure the protection of embedded firmware, keys, and security-critical assets through the entire device lifecycle. It enables silicon hardware security features, secure device provisioning, and API access to essential trust services such as secure storage, firmware updates, and payload verification.

The flexibility of EmSPARK 2.0 lets developers integrate the IoT silicon of choice, without concern for such items as secure boot, OTA updates, failovers, or IP protection. Most popular MCUs are covered, including those from NXP and Microchip. The applications where such a secure architecture would thrive include industrial control, building automation, smart home, machine vision, automotive communications, and medical devices. Having a pre-packaged software security suite lets OEMs overcome steep learning curves associated with security technologies.

Free software evaluation kits are available from Sequitur Labs. In addition, the company has partnered with Arrow Electronics to equip the Arrow Shield96 board, a trusted Linux reference design, with EmSPARK 2.0.