Isolated Partitioning of Firmware Improves IoT Device Security

There are two methods for improving IoT device security: secure partitioning and secure coding. The latter seems to have gained favor, not only for cloud software, but also for IoT device firmware. This may be because there has not been an effective firmware partitioning solution for microcontroller-based devices using memory protection units (MPUs). We are …

Let’s KISS

Keep It Simple Stupid has been the motto of many engineers, dating back to Kelly Johnson, who coined the KISS acronym at the Lockheed Skunk Works in the 1960s. It means that simpler designs are better. What we first create is usually complicated. Refactoring it makes it simpler and simpler. This is better because it …

The Engineering Funnel

Salesmen and Marketeers are fond of the Sales Funnel. Basically, it represents a sales process wherein a prospect starts at the top of the funnel with many options to chose from. Under the skillful guidance of the salesman, who is deploying the marvelous materials of the marketeer, the prospect eliminates options as he moves down …

Improving IoT Device Security

I just read a very good article, Supply Chain Security Guidance, by the staff at Finite State, Inc. This article brings home the massive impact upon embedded devices that President Biden’s Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity will have. I think it is clear from this article that very few existing connected devices are …

To Partition Or Not To Partition

For Secure IoT Devices Most embedded systems that are connected to the Internet, also known as things or devices, are based upon microcontrollers having moderate performance and small to moderate memories. The software or firmware in these devices typically runs on minimal RTOSs with no security protection. All software in such systems is linked into …