The STSAFE Trusted Platform Modules store system-authentication data such as cryptographic keys in inaccessible and unalterable hardware.
STMicroelectronics has introduced two security modules that it says will provide an industry-validated shield to protect computers and smart connected devices against cyber-attacks.
The STSAFE Trusted Platform Modules (TPM) store system-authentication data such as cryptographic keys and software measurements in inaccessible and unalterable hardware, offering an industry-standardised way to protect PCs and servers, as well as other home and office equipment such as printers, copiers, home gateways, network routers and switches. This protected storage prevents attackers from interfering with the device’s integrity, stealing private data, or taking over the system to gain unauthorised access or privileges that would put the system, data or its network at risk.
The Trusted Computing Group’s latest TPM 2.0 specification adds extra features over the earlier TPM 1.2, including cryptographic algorithms and support for user hierarchies. The first of ST’s new STSAFE-TPM devices, the ST33TPHF2ESPI, supports both specifications and can switch easily between the two, allowing OEMs to provide TPM 1.2 or TPM 2.0 capability on the latest device technology. The second device is the ST33TPHF20SPI, which supports TPM 2.0 and has the largest non-volatile memory in the market to provide up to 110Kb storage for sensitive data.
The STSAFE-TPM modules leverage ST’s expertise with the secure ARM SecurCore SC300 processor, which has anti-tamper, data-watching, and memory-protection features. Both devices are Common Criteria (CC) and Trusted Computing Group (TCG) certified against the applicable TPM 1.2 and 2.0 protection profiles, while U.S. Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 certifications are in progress. The new modules come with RSA and ECC Endorsement Keys (EKs) needed to support authentication and associated key certificates are provided, signed by the independent certification authority Globalsign Ltd.
The ST33HTPH2ESPI and ST33HTPH20SPI are available in either a TSSOP28 or QFN32 package. Both devices are in production now.
