Expanded functionality to control/manage devices through gateways
Unveiling a Universal Industry Framework for IoT Security

The proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) has raised concerns about the security of connected devices. The lack of unified standards makes IoT difficult to manage. There are also risks of connection loss and hacking. To address these network connectivity and security challenges, ARM has proposed a universal industry framework.

ARM held the 'ARM Tech Symposia 2017' at the Grand Intercontinental in Samseong-dong, Seoul on the 28th and announced that it has expanded the functions of Mbed Cloud, which can load, control, and manage devices through IoT gateways.

“In the past two years, we’ve seen a rise in hacking of tire pressure monitors and security cameras,” said Nandan Nayampally, vice president of ARM’s client computing business unit. “Security is no longer an option but a requirement in IoT design.”

Gateways play a crucial role in IoT networks, connecting local, wired, and wirelessly connected devices to the cloud. In most cases, they control devices and run local applications. Mbed Cloud, with the added capabilities of Mbed Edge, offers three capabilities: Internet Protocol (IP) and legacy connected device connectivity and management, gateway management and diagnostics, and edge computing.



Many legacy devices connect via non-IP-compatible communication protocols, such as Modbus and BACnet. Embed Edge converts these protocols to IP and connects them to the Embed Cloud. For example, smart buildings typically have endpoints like Zigbee for lighting, BACnet for HVAC control, and Modbus for temperature control. Connecting these devices and enabling IP communication allows for control and management.

With IoT gateways equipped with local computing resources, applications can run directly on the gateway, independent of the cloud. Furthermore, during normal operation, raw data can be processed at the edge without going through the cloud. Because the gateway is connected without an external network, it can take independent action if the cloud connection is lost, minimizing productivity losses.

ARM also unveiled Platform Security Architecture (PSA), a general-purpose industry framework for building secure connected devices.

At last year's Arm TechCon event, it was predicted that the number of connected devices would reach 1 trillion by 2035. Security for this device must be based on the innovation and uniqueness of the product itself, without hindering diversity.

Nandan Nayampally, Business Unit Manager, explained, “PSA is a solution that strengthens security, improves efficiency, and simplifies security. We created a hardware and software architecture based on an understanding and analysis of threats. Many IoT devices installed in the field are old, but software updates are possible.” He added that it is necessary to enable devices to authenticate based on certificates.

To accelerate the adoption of PSA in the IoT ecosystem, Arm plans to provide an open-source reference implementation firmware compliant with the PSA specification. This is being developed based on the Armv8-M system, and the source code is expected to be released in early 2018. PSA is available for all operating systems, with support for the latest version of the market-proven mbed operating system and all RTOS and software partners.