Blockchain-based Digital Identity Solution Protects IoT Devices and Their Data
WISeKey International Holding Ltd reported that it launched SensorsID, a strong digital identity solution that it designed to protect device identities and their data.
SensorsID acts as a strong digital identity solution, issued under the WISeKey Root of Trust (RoT), that combines dual-factor authentication capabilities with an innovative blockchain platform to protect device identities and their data transactions.
The SensorsID BlockChain is constantly growing as new identity blocks and data transactions are added to it to ensure authenticity and traceability. (See diagram above). The totally decentralized system can be operated at national or local levels using a distributed identity ledger run by trusted parties spread across the blockchain ecosystem.
WISeKey gives the example of intelligent car with a system processing authenticated data for each of the vehicle components. Such a system could detect if/when different parts will require service and can digitally sign all the logs required to prove that service was provided.
The company says that this kind of predictive maintenance platform can be used in multiple industrial applications, allowing for optimized productivity across industries on equipment and machinery, creating truly smart homes with connected appliances. It can also provide critical communication between devices including self-driving cars and smart homes.
WISeKey says its technology creates a platform that helps connected devices to become intelligent devices that can learn from attacks, defend themselves, and transfer this intelligence to other devices in the network.
Combined with the Application Microcontroller in the IoT Edge Device, the VaultIC Secure Element brings premium security level.
WISeKey Secure Elements are dedicated to providing secure storage and usage of sensitive assets. WISeKey chips are built with unique features able to secure storage, cryptographic calculations and digital signatures, and are specifically designed to execute sensitive calculations, without leaking information such as power consumption patterns or electromagnetic emissions to the outside world. The data is stored deep down within the protected memory of the chips.
WISeKey designed these chips with unique capabilities that do not allow other software to run on them, and they are equipped with various hardware sensors and protection mechanisms making them resistant to hardware attacks.
WISeKey claims that if its Secure Elements had been used for sensitive data storage for the application microcontrollers affected by the recent 'Meltdown' and 'Spectre' attacks, the attacks would not have been successful.
For more than twenty years, WISeKey has been providing a range of common criteria certified, tamper-resistant microprocessors that can be implemented on IoT devices to provide secure storage and usage of sensitive assets, and to uniquely identify, authenticate and protect devices in the field. The digital identities of these assets can be efficiently managed through a Webtrust certified Public Key Infrastructure on premises or as a cloud service.
Currently, WISeKey boasts an install base of over 1.2 billion IoT VaultIC chips in virtually all IoT sectors (including smartcards, smart cities, drones, anti-counterfeiting, smart lighting, servers, mobile phones, etc.).
