Product category:
Embedded Software and Operating Systems
News Release from: Wavecom | Subject: Open AT Security Plug-In
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 01 May 2008
Software secures M2M wireless links
The Open AT Security Plug-In enables developers of all categories of wireless M2M systems to make sure that important data are securely stored and safely transmitted.
As wireless M2M products become more sophisticated, the data that they generate are increasingly valuable Designers of such products are therefore often faced with information security and reliability as a key request
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 16 Jan 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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Security issues may be related to the device itself and its hosted applications or data, to the TCP/IP link between a field device and the back-end servers, or specifically to the GSM, GPRS or Edge connection.
"When we were developing our L2MG product for the POS and ATM markets", says Alain Lacour, CEO of Lyra Networks, France: "the Security Plug-In's advantages became clear".
"We were very rapidly able to develop a product that not only meets the stringent banking security standards, but adapts its capabilities depending on communication channels - GPRS or Ethernet - to ensure the lowest cost of operation".
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"In the meantime, using the Open AT operating system reduced both the design complexity and the cost of the terminal".
"Above all, being able to target the Latin American as well as the Europe, Middle East and African market seamlessly was of the utmost importance for Lyra".
"That requirement was easily met by using Wavecom wireless CPUs which natively support worldwide coverage".
With the Open AT Security Plug-In, Wavecom launches a software solution which addresses all these concerns.
The Open AT Security Plug-In enables developers of all categories of wireless M2M systems to make sure that important data are securely stored and safely transmitted between a field device and a back-end server, and that illegal jammers are detected as quickly as possible.
For instance, such jammers are used by vehicle thieves to prevent wireless devices from reporting the vehicle position, or building alarm systems from contacting the police.
The Open AT Security Plug-In includes a feature that not only allows the application to detect jamming, but also to set the sensitivity of the detection, allowing the application to take appropriate action such as triggering an alarm or making a nonwireless call.
Moreover, knowing that ultrafast adaptation to new threats is key for any security system, Wavecom provides full access to its GSM spectrum monitoring APIs for advanced customers to adapt jamming detection algorithms to their specific needs.
For business-critical devices that need high-reliability services, the Open AT Security Plug-In provides the capability to access several SIM cards in order to cope with wireless network availability and geographical network coverage issues.
In order to prevent unauthorised users from accessing critical data held within field devices, sensitive information may be stored locally in an encrypted file.
The Open AT Security Plug-In features a built-in cryptographic engine which supports the RC2, RC4, DES, Triple DES and AES256 encryption protocols.
Moreover, Wavecom provides a secure data storage mechanism to ensure secure storage of the encryption keys.
Data transferred from on-field devices to back-end servers travel across several potentially unsafe zones.
In terms of IP (Internet Protocol) security, Wavecom's SSL 3.0/TLS 1.0 functionality is based on the Open SSL implementation and supports server and field device authentication, encryption, integrity, nonrepudiation and multiple sessions over multiple bearers, ensuring a secure end-to-end connection.
Wavecom also offers the SSL-secured version of its existing FTP and HTTP clients, turning them into FTPS and HTTPS clients.
Finally, in order to optimise the data exchange over the GSM/GPRS/Edge bearers, the SSL supports the "resume session" feature.
Unique in the wireless M2M communications field, the Open AT Security Plug-In is a "one stop shop" security solution covering all security-related aspects locally as well as remotely.
The Open AT Security Plug-In will initially be made available for the complete Wavecom wireless microprocessor family, the Q26 Series, Q64, Q52 Omni and Fastrack Supreme, providing seamless portability of customer software from one platform to another thanks to the new common operating system.
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