With millions of devices already connected to the internet and the number of devices expected to explode in the future as the internet of things (IoT) accelerates, the need to secure these devices is becoming especially important.
Microchip Technology Inc. is tackling this issue by adopting the Kinibi-M security platform in its newly launched SAM L11 microcontrollers based on the ARM Cortex-M23 core. The MCUs include a programmable environment for hardware isolation between certified libraries, intellectual property and application code. The MCU includes a proprietary chip-level tamper resistance, secure boot and secure key storage.
The Kinibi-M software is a modular, hardware-secured Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) that embeds a unique and distinct identity for every device during silicon manufacture. The technology allows makers to: record and attest to manufacturing steps, preventing fraud and counterfeiting in the supply chain; protect software and IP throughout a device’s lifecycle; ensures that updates, personalization and secrets can be securely delivered; and enables devices to identify themselves in the field such as to enable automatic cloud enrollment.
“IoT end points often require low power and high security,” said Rod Drake, vice president of Microchip’s MCU32 business unit. “However, the growth of IoT nodes is happening so fast that security is not always adequately addressed. The features of the SAM L11 are exactly what customers need to plan for security early in the design cycle and throughout the remainder of the device’s life.”
