Page 67 - Cyber Defense eMagazine for July 2020

Security in memory card format

Swissbit’s new security solution consists of a flash memory chip, produced and tested for industrial
requirements. This chip is run using a special version of the durabit firmware with integrated AES 256-bit
encryptor (Fig. 1). The DP (Data Protection) version encrypts and protects all data in various ways (CD-
ROM mode, PIN protection, hidden memory, WORM mode). For the hardware-based protection of the
communication in the IoT, another security anchor is required. Swissbit’s security modules come with
solutions such as an Infineon/NXP Smart Card Chip CC EAL 5+/6+. An API, a SDK and a PKCS#11
library are available for application development.

Fig 1. The structure of a microSD card with security features.

Designating an ID to things

Security experts trust in microSD cards with secure element for encrypting mobile phone
communications. Similar to the communication between people, the communication of the things across
the Internet also needs to employ identification, authentication and authorization. In other words, how
does a “thing” know that the data or data queries received from another “thing” are correct and that the
source of a message is truly the system component that it claims to be? Swissbit security memory media,
with secure element, provide applications and systems with a unique identity. “Things” get a counterfeit-
proof ID and as such, networked systems can be protected from misuse, “identity theft” and data access
can be restricted. Smart cards, that are integrated onto memory cards, provide systems with non-
cloneable identities, transforming them into uniquely identifiable M2M (machine-to-machine)
communication participants, that can authenticate themselves and send and receive cryptographically
heavily secured data.

Another important device-specific application for these Swissbit solutions is Trusted Boot. Trusted Boot
ensures that software can only be run on specific hardware or hardware classes. A secure flash memory

Cyber Defense eMagazine –July 2020 Edition 67
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