Enhancing Embedded System Security with TPM 2.0 and Robust Design Principles

Creating an embedded system that can be verified and trusted will lead to more successful deployment in critical industries such as transportation, industrial automation and smart grids. With the combination of embedded Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 and a comprehensive set of design principles, you can create a robust and highly secure embedded system.

TPM 2.0: Strengthening Embedded Security

A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 serves as a hardware-based safeguard, embedded within single-board computers (SBCs). A TPM 2.0 chip is now optional on Gatwork's Venice single-board computers to facilitate heightened security through cryptographic functionalities. These functionalities encompass support for various encryption and hashing algorithms, including AES-128, SHA-256, and RSA 1024-2048 bit keys, fostering a secure environment resistant to unauthorized access.

Utilizing TPM for Robust Security Measures

TPM 2.0 empowers embedded systems with a myriad of security measures, including:

• Secure Boot Process: Only authorized firmware and software can be loaded, ensuring the integrity of the boot sequence.
• Disk Encryption: Linux Unified Key Setup (LUKS) encrypts storage disks, tethering the decryption process to the system's Platform Configuration Registers (PCRs), thereby ensuring system sanity.
• Trusted Execution Environment (TEE): Establishes a secure enclave where critical operations can transpire shielded from external interference, bolstering system integrity.
• Remote Attestation: Validates the system's integrity remotely, thwarting attempts at unauthorized system access.
• SSH Key Protection: Aligns SSH keys with TPM PCRs, fortifying communication channels against potential breaches.

TPM & PCRs: Verifying System Integrity

Platform Configuration Registers (PCRs) are registers that represent ‘fingerprints’ of different pieces of a specific system. The TPM scrutinizes PCR values to authenticate system integrity during boot processes, denying access in the presence of discrepancies. This feature ensures that only validated systems gain entry, mitigating the risk of unauthorized access.

Embedding Security in Design Principles

Complementing TPM 2.0, robust design principles form the cornerstone of embedded system security:

• Physical Security: Rugged enclosures and tamper-proof measures deter unauthorized physical access, fortifying the system's defenses.
• Secure Boot & Trusted Execution: Implementing secure boot mechanisms, along with Trusted Execution Environments, establishes a chain of trust, safeguarding critical system components.
• Linux Security Measures: From full disk encryption to application sandboxing, Linux-based systems leverage multifaceted security strategies to fortify their defenses.
• Network Security: TLS/SSL encryption, firewall configurations, and stringent access controls shield embedded systems from network-based threats, preserving data integrity.

Conclusion: Elevating Embedded Security

A proactive approach to secure embedded systems should include adhering to robust design principles and the integration of TPM 2.0. This provides proof of integrity to the trusted execution environment as well as remote attestation, which is highly beneficial in any remote and distributed environment. Combining TPM 2.0 with rigorous design principles highlights a commitment to embedded system security in ever-evolving digital environments, ensuring reliable and trustworthy deployments.

An embedded TPM 2.0 chip is now optional on Gateworks Corporation Venice SBCs. Contact us to learn more.

Learn more:

Read the full TPM 2.0 technical article, HERE.

Explore Gateworks TPM Support Wiki, HERE.

Explore Gateworks Venice Secure Boot Support Wiki, HERE.

Read a more in-depth analysis of Security Considerations, HERE.

Review TPM Specification, HERE.

View Microchip TPM Product Page, HERE.