Azure Sphere is an application platform with integrated communications and security features developed and managed by Microsoft for Internet Connected Devices.

Azure Sphere
DeveloperMicrosoft
Written inC and others
OS familyUnix-like (Linux)
Working stateCurrent
Source modelAt least partially open source
General
availability
February 24, 2020; 4 years ago (February 24, 2020)
Latest release23.05 / June 20, 2023; 17 months ago (June 20, 2023)[1]
Latest preview19.10[2] / November 7, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-11-07)
Repository
PlatformsARM (MediaTek MT3620)
Kernel typeMonolithic kernel
LicenseProprietary
Official websiteazure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/azure-sphere/

The platform consists of integrated hardware built around a silicon chip: the Azure Sphere OS (operating system for Azure Sphere), an operating system based on Linux, and the Azure Sphere Security Service, a cloud-based security service. Azure Sphere security was developed based on Microsoft Research's position on the seven required characteristics of highly secure devices.

Azure Sphere OS

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The Azure Sphere OS is a custom Linux-based microcontroller operating system created by Microsoft to run on an Azure Sphere-certified chip and to connect to the Azure Sphere Security Service.[3][4][5] The Azure Sphere OS provides a platform for Internet of things application development, including both high-level applications and real-time-capable applications. It is the first operating system running a Linux kernel[6] that Microsoft has publicly released and the second Unix-like operating system that the company has developed for external (public) users, the other being Xenix.

Azure Sphere Security Service

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The Azure Sphere Security Service, also known as AS3, is a cloud-based service that facilitates maintenance, updates, and control for Azure Sphere-certified chips.[7] The Azure Sphere Security Service establishes a secure connection between devices and the internet or cloud services and ensures secure boot. The primary purpose of contact between an Azure Sphere device and the Azure Sphere Security Service is to authenticate the device identity, ensure the integrity and trust of the system software, and certify that the device is running a trusted code base. The service also provides a secure channel for Microsoft to automatically download and install Azure Sphere OS updates and customer application updates to deployed devices.

Azure Sphere chips and hardware

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Azure Sphere-certified chips and hardware support two general implementation categories: greenfield and brownfield. Greenfield implementation involves designing and building new IoT devices with an Azure Sphere-certified chip. Azure Sphere-certified chips are currently produced by MediaTek.[8] In June 2019, NXP announced plans to produce a line of Azure Sphere-certified chips. In October 2019, Qualcomm announced plans to produce the first Azure Sphere-certified chips with cellular capabilities.[9] Brownfield implementation involves the use of an Azure Sphere guardian device to securely connect an existing device to the internet. Azure Sphere guardian modules are currently produced by Avnet.

Microsoft Pluton

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Pluton is a Microsoft-designed security subsystem that implements a hardware-based root of trust for Azure Sphere. It includes a security processor core, cryptographic engines, a hardware random number generator, public/private key generation, asymmetric and symmetric encryption, support for elliptic curve digital signature algorithm (ECDSA) verification for secured boot, and measured boot in silicon to support remote attestation with a cloud service, and various tampering counter-measures.[10][11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "What's new in Azure Sphere". learn.microsoft.com/. Microsoft.
  2. ^ "Update 19.10 for Azure Sphere now available". azure.microsoft.com. November 7, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  3. ^ Speed, Richard. "Now that's old-school cool: Microsoft techies slap Azure Sphere IoT chip in an Altair 8800". www.theregister.com.
  4. ^ Staff, Ars (April 16, 2018). "Microsoft's bid to secure the Internet of Things: Custom Linux, custom chips, Azure". Ars Technica.
  5. ^ "Microsoft's chip push continues with Azure Sphere: Securing gadgets with chips and Linux".
  6. ^ "Linux Is Microsoft's OS of Choice for Internet of Things Devices". Digital Trends. April 17, 2018.
  7. ^ richcalaway. "Terminology - Azure Sphere". docs.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  8. ^ "Azure Sphere". Archived from the original on 2018-06-14. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  9. ^ "Qualcomm to build Azure Sphere chips with Cellular connectivity". build5nines.com. October 23, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  10. ^ Team, Microsoft 365 Defender Threat Intelligence (2020-11-17). "Meet the Microsoft Pluton processor – The security chip designed for the future of Windows PCs". Microsoft Security Blog. Retrieved 2022-11-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ vinaypamnani-msft. "Microsoft Pluton as Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0)". learn.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
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