Barkhausen Institute: New research project for more security in the Internet of Things

The SITe (“Steeled IoT Device”) research project is developing technical foundations to make networked devices in the Internet of Things more secure. Wireless communication is indispensable for many applications – from smart agriculture to industry – but brings with it new security risks. Especially when certain hardware components such as wireless modems are not fully verifiable or trustworthy, protective measures become essential.

Many IoT devices – similar to smartphones – connect to the internet via mobile networks such as 5G. This flexible communication opens up numerous opportunities, but also poses considerable challenges:

• The devices require a radio module that may come from manufacturers that cannot be fully trusted.
• The software of the devices is exposed to potential attacks from the internet.
• The transmitted data must be reliably protected.

In the SITe project, the Barkhausen Institute is working together with ISS AG and DATEC pro GmbH to solve precisely these challenges. While the partners are concentrating on network security and encryption, the institute is focusing on hardware security. With its specially developed M³ platform – a combination of special hardware architecture and a microkernel-based operating system – the Barkhausen Institute ensures that the system components are clearly separated from each other. This separation prevents potentially insecure components such as the radio module from gaining access to security-critical areas. Even in the event of a compromise, the rest of the system operation remains protected.
Together, the project partners are laying the foundations for trustworthy IoT devices. SITe shows how security and reliability can be integrated into digital technologies from the outset – for resilient use in everyday life.

Term: 1.9.2024 to 31.8.2027

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Further links

👉 www.barkhauseninstitut.org  

Photo: photopixelstudio (KI generated)/Adobe Stock