Kudelski proposes Microsoft Azure IoT security solution

Kudelski Group has integrated its internet of things (IoT) security platform with Microsoft Azure to reduce the risk to business cloud infrastructures from connected IoT devices.

Microsoft has already published research showing the danger to extended enterprises from unsecured IoT devices. Its IoT signals report shows that among 3,000 IoT decision-makers surveyed globally, security concerns around IoT adoption are universal, with 97% of companies concerned about security when implementing IoT. 

Kudelski says its new partnership will result in IoT device manufacturers and providers being able to connect their devices to the IT giant’s cloud-based IoT services at scale, simplifying deployment of IoT projects.

The security platform puts hardware- or software-based root of trust in each device at manufacture, provisioning the unique identity and secret keys required to enable a wide variety of features, including: zero-touch provisioning, secure boot, firmware over the air updates, remote attestation, end-to-end data encryption, secure data storage, secure processing, advanced key management, key rotation and built-in countermeasures.

This, says Kudelski, allows suitably configured devices to connect automatically to Azure IoT out of the box, simplifying the management of device credentials and establishing trust and control for the end-customer.

The companies’ offering is also said to address a key IoT challenge in how to connect devices with different capabilities and profiles to a single IoT platform. The Kudelski platform is also optimised for NB-IoT devices and networks, limiting bandwidth and power usage to extend device lifetimes.

“As companies use IoT to transform their businesses, they must do so using security that ensures long-term sustainability of their business model,” said Justin Haiduk, principal solution specialist, Azure IoT, at Microsoft. “Combined with the flexibility and power of Microsoft Azure IoT, our partners will be able to securely connect any device of any profile to our platform with ease.”

The platform has already been adopted by communication service providers and consumer electronics, medical, asset tracking and industrial IoT users.