Given the scale of the challenge of securing an ever expanding IoT and M2M landscape, global authorities, industry bodies, governments and regulators are working collaboratively towards defined security guidelines and mandates.
SE – The Benefits of Hardware Security
As a result, many are dramatically increasing the recommended level of security and advocating hardware solutions to deliver trust to the IoT ecosystem. For example, the GSMA IoT Security Guidelines and ETSI 103 645 standards champion the benefits of hardware security.
Tamper-Resistant Platform
A Secure Element (SE) is defined by GlobalPlatform as a tamper-resistant platform (typically a one chip secure microcontroller) capable of securely hosting applications and their confidential and cryptographic data in accordance with the rules and security requirements set forth by a set of well-identified trusted authorities. SEs can be embedded (eSE) and integrated (iSE). SE form factors include the SIM, with the addition of telecom applications enabling connectivity to cellular networks.
The advanced security features delivered by SE technology, including data protection, secure boot, secure key storage and management, are critical to the development of a safe, sustainable connected ecosystem.
SEs can also be leveraged to securely connect IoT devices using non-cellular networks, such as LoRa.