Secure MPU

Original equipment manufacturer's (OEM) products that have been developed over the last couple of decades have concentrated on the capabilities and performance delivered by the products MPUs. In more recent times, security breaches by bad actors have started targeting these type of OEM systems through security faults. This leaves exposure to the OEMs in protecting their end user's confidential data, their own IP and can result in costs that include fines, legal action and long-lasting impact to their reputation.

For many applications, starting with a secure MPU will give the OEM the capability to design in security from the onset of their product development resulting in a more secure and robust solution. A secure MPU is typically divided into trusted and standard zones within the hardware, to isolate secure functions and protect the IP and data. Built in cryptographic engines, security hardware root of trust, tamper detection to protect the MPU contents and clear them in the case of tampering all can be implemented in the MPU to provide much needed security to deter and mitigate when an attack is made on a product or system. These capabilities are reinforced by the chain of trust on the device which uses embedded keys and certificates to verify firmware updates before they are implemented via the bootloader. The chain of trust also includes verification of the product at the applications layer to help prevent attacks. Security needs and requirements on products will continue to evolve as the threats against them evolve, but having a secure MPU will allow for OEMs to protect and respond to those attacks providing confidence to their clients and protecting their investments.

Advanced Hardware Security for IoT at Scale

The Shield96 board based on Microchip silicon is available in two different forms.

The Shield96 Standard reference platform provides a secure reference platform applicable across all IoT verticals. This trusted Linux turn-key solution addresses hardware security by design. This hardware allows users the ability to design a product as needed to fit their custom needs.

The Shield96 Trusted Platform comes preloaded with the EmSPARK Security Suite software by Sequitur Labs. This provides a secure platform to enable secure end points and protect firmware, keys and data throughout the lifecycle of a product. EmSPARK is the essential software companion suite complementing the Microchip hardware providing a cost-effective secure solution appropriate for every connected device built with the ATSAMA5D2 processor. Engineers can leverage this reference design for digital transformation built on trust extracting the full value of the advanced embedded security features.

Device Security is simply not optional any longer. IoT Device developers need to ensure their products are protected from attacks, safe and secure through the manufacturing process, and able to be managed securely throughout the life of the product. Without the appropriate implementation of IoT Security, vendors risk damage to their products, credibility and brand, as well as the loss of critical intellectual property, for example, AI/ML algorithms.  

Implementing security at the device level is, however, a big challenge, requiring investments in technical skills- security features, silicon integration, and cloud integration- and changes to business processes, such as manufacturing operations, while still preserving budgets and optimizing time to market. Developers should consider a holistic solution to address this.

Sequitur Labs’ EmSPARK™ Security Suite is a comprehensive IoT Security software solution that addresses the key security elements of the IoT device life-cycle (design, build, and sustain) in a prepackaged solution. As an IoT device developer, you can significantly reduce the risk and time to market challenges of implementing device security, by easily integrating EmSPARK™ with your device applications.  

EmSPARK™ Security Suite is supported on industry-leading platforms including NXP i.MX8 and Layerscape, Microchip SAMA5D2, and others. 

Get started right away with the Shield96 Trusted Board, a flexible development platform which is preloaded with the EmSPARK™ Security Suite software!