When we started to work on the IoT/IIoT issue, it quickly became apparent that one of the biggest design concerns, or perhaps the biggest challenge, is security. Let’s face it — there are tens of billions of connected devices in the world, spanning across industry segments from consumer electronics and automotive to medical devices and industrial equipment. In addition, it impacts the entire supply chain from component and OEM manufacturers to security providers and software developers.
Other security drivers are government regulations and industry standards. ETSI, for example, released the EN 303 645 standard for cybersecurity for IoT-connected consumer devices in July.
Stakeholders are focusing their efforts on creating awareness and building security from the start of the design. There is no way around it; embedded security is a requirement for IoT devices. But like Kris Ardis, executive director for the Micros, Security, and Software Business Unit at Maxim Integrated, recently told EP, “the first line of defense is awareness of the threats an application may come up against. Even my most secure microcontroller won’t help if the implementer doesn’t consider the threats and unintentionally leaves backdoors open.”
Developers building IoT sensor devices and networks already face a host of challenges, and combined with a lack of clear standards for cybersecurity, building security into the device is often just an afterthought, said Alan Grau, VP of IoT/Embedded Solutions, Sectigo. There are four essential components of a secure IoT sensing device, he said — secure boot, secure firmware update, secure communication, and data protection — and vulnerabilities in embedded devices are found in three areas: implementation, design, and deployment.
Similarly, Vinay Gokhale, vice president business development, Thirdwayv, believes the security of connected health-care devices is, in too many instances, not considered carefully enough. What’s worse, he said, is some solution providers believe that security simply cannot be implemented cost-effectively. Mitigating security threats in connected health-care devices can be achieved through a multi-layered, security-by-design approach that minimizes cost while simplifying deployment.
On top of these challenges, manufacturers that integrate information technology and operational technology rely on IIoT platforms for smart manufacturing to manage their devices, connectivity, infrastructure, and data, but how do you select the right one for your project? These IIoT platforms also help manufacturers to implement applications, derive insights, and deliver those insights to the correct stakeholders, said Ryan Martin, principal analyst, ABI Research. However, selecting the right platform can be a challenge with requirements varying widely based on a project’s needs and with so many platforms offering different features. Martin shares his insights into how to select the right IIoT platform.
This month’s issue also showcases DC/DC converters that are used in a range of applications from consumer electronics and telecommunications to industrial and medical. A common denominator among them all is the need to develop technologies and architectures that deliver higher efficiency, save board space, and lower total system cost without sacrificing performance. You can find many highly integrated and miniature converters for almost any application.
We also look at some of the most recent image sensor developments. Thanks to new technologies and processes, CMOS image sensors are delivering better viewing in all lighting conditions, smaller size, and lower power consumption from smartphones to automotive safety applications.
Cover image courtesy of Shutterstock
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