Securing Industrial IoT with TPM 2.0 Amidst the global pandemic, computers have become our lifeline to family, friends, and businesses, keeping us connected in isolation. However, this increased reliance on computers, especially within home networks, has raised significant concerns about cyber security. Cyber-attacks are escalating, often exploiting vulnerabilities in software-based security solutions. This trend indicates that purely software-based security measures no longer offer adequate protection. Consequently, developers and manufacturers are turning to hardware-backed solutions, such as the Trusted Protection Module (TPM), to ensure robust security.
TPM: A Primer
The Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a dedicated chip soldered onto the computer’s motherboard. It provides critical security functions, including user authentication, securing the boot process, data encryption and protection, secure communication between remotely connected devices, and secure software and firmware updates over the air. When used in conjunction with BitLocker encryption, the TPM chip generates encryption keys and securely stores part of the key within itself. This approach ensures that an intruder cannot simply remove the hard drive and insert it into another computer to access the data.
TPM in Industrial Settings
Industrial computers have long utilized TPM chips to secure passwords and sensitive data. These chips effectively address the unique security risks present in rugged, remote, and industrial environments, particularly in data-sensitive industries. For instance, industrial computers deployed in public areas are vulnerable to malicious software installed via USB drives. Similarly, remote systems that are infrequently accessed by users or staff pose an elevated risk of hardware tampering. TPM-ready industrial computers offer crucial reassurance for defense operations where data security is paramount. If a defense-grade laptop used by soldiers in the field is lost or tampered with, the TPM chip significantly complicates data recovery efforts by adversaries.
TPM in Edge Computing
TPM provides an additional layer of security for operations, storage, communications, and monitoring within the cloud-computing environment. It ensures that data remains encrypted from connected devices to edge devices and ultimately to the cloud. Identity authentication between two remote entities can be achieved using TPM in software, hardware, or a combination of both. This approach verifies the trustworthiness of the entities and confirms that their systems have not been tampered with. TPM utilizes Attestation Identity Key (AIK) pairs to establish a secure channel for information exchange and secure communications between two Edge entities. TPM is particularly critical in industrial and mission-critical cloud infrastructures that host sensitive data, such as patient medical records. Unauthorized access to these systems or data breaches can have catastrophic consequences.
The Future of Windows Devices
Windows plays a pivotal role in protecting devices and the ever-growing volume of generated, transferred, and stored data. To prevent hackers from exploiting the work-from-home trend and compromising sensitive data, Microsoft prioritizes security through a design approach that ensures all Windows devices remain protected across the entire network. TPM-enabled devices guarantee the reliability, identity, and security validity of devices while enabling them to report their integrity and protect their hardware and software components. As cyber-attacks are not expected to subside in the near future, TPM must be leveraged to provide multi-layer security protection against the escalating number of cyber threats.
