The Trusted Connection Alliance (TCA) and the Internet of Things Security Foundation share a common vision: to protect the Internet of Things through trusted connections and promote continued growth.
In this article, Claus Dietze, Chairman of the TCA Board of Directors, explains how Anti-tamper element (three) Can help the Internet of Things reach its potential.
As we all know, the security in the field of Internet of Things is insufficient. In the process of eager to meet the demand for online products, services and infrastructure, many manufacturers have adopted a “connect first, consider later” strategy, and security is an afterthought.This has led to years of serious security and privacy breaches, including Hacked baby monitor arrive Nuclear power plant failure in Ukraine.
Today, almost everything can be online. However, potential brings challenges. Connecting IoT devices on this scale exposes more homes, hospitals, power plants, and other critical infrastructures to cyber attacks.
Now, regulators and authorities around the world are stepping in and finally taking it seriously Securing the Internet of Things.
Although a universal global standard for IoT security has not yet been achieved, significant progress is being made. In addition to ensuring a safe and reliable connection between devices and from the device to the cloud, similar principles and best practices are also emphasized, such as the importance of secure storage and credential communication to protect the integrity of personal data, software, and firmware.
It is increasingly obvious that hardware technology provides the highest level of protection required to meet such strong security requirements.For example, tamper-resistant elements (TRE) have been deployed as SIM card and eSIM card Provide trusted connections to cellular networks in billions of devices worldwide.
What is TRE?
TRE is a Independent safety element Or a secure enclave composed of hardware and low-level software that provides resistance to logical and physical attacks and can host secure applications and their confidential and encrypted data. The combination of these features gives TRE a unique ability to provide the most stringent secure end-to-end connection solution.
Importantly, using these TRE-based SIM products to protect all types of devices in the entire IoT ecosystem has significant advantages. What is not widely recognized is that TRE has detachable, embedded and recently integrated form factors-commonly referred to as detachable SIM, eSIM, and integrated SIM.
Mature platform for secure identity verification and trusted connection
First, tens of billions of devices (and increasing) that use cellular connections around the world already include TRE-based SIM products. The SIM application needs to verify the access rights of the device to the cellular network, and the SIM card is the most widely distributed and safest application delivery platform in the world.
By leveraging the advanced features of TRE already included in their products, equipment manufacturers can quickly solve security pain points with minimal investment, without the need to re-invent the wheel. This leaves more time and resources to focus on their core business.
Importantly, TRE can also be easily used Secure connection to a range of non-cellular networksThis means that IoT devices that do not use cellular networks will also benefit from TRE technology.
An undeveloped platform for protecting data at rest and in transit
TRE-based SIM products support advanced features to achieve the highest level of security when storing credentials on the SIM and storing personal data on the device. But the security advantage is not limited to equipment.
By using the untapped potential of SIM as Secure Hardware Root of Trust (rot), the device can safely connect or verify itself to the IoT cloud platform and services, and establish a secure communication channel for the secure transmission of data.
This feature is supported by industry plans, such as IoT security – The partnership between GSMA and TCA – defines a standardized way to use SIM and eSIM to securely perform mutual authentication between IoT device applications and IoT services in the cloud.
Realize future-oriented security through remote management
Finally, the sheer scale of the Internet of Things makes remote management capabilities essential. TRE-based SIM technology is supported by a mature and certified infrastructure that enables secure factory and on-site configuration and personalization, remote life cycle management, and security services.
This allows security to be enhanced and updated throughout the life cycle of the device. For example, security credentials can be remotely configured to equipment or factory production lines to support the design of secure methods without affecting the manufacturing process.
Because IoT security is not static and threats will evolve over time, SIM remote management technology can update, enhance or revoke these credentials and security parameters to deal with emerging threats. In situations where equipment has a long life and may have multiple owners (such as vehicles), it is particularly important to strike this balance between strong safety and simplicity.
Building trust in an interconnected future
Obviously, solving the security and privacy vulnerabilities in the Internet of Things is a top priority, but it also brings major challenges.
Although the ability of the SIM application on TRE to provide a trusted connection between the device and the cellular network is well known, the potential for TRE to be used more widely in connected devices for unparalleled security features and services is huge and untapped.
This will help promote the sustainable development of an interconnected society through the protection of assets, end-user privacy, and the trusted connection of the network.
