Azure Sphere Offers IoT Security Strategy

• Azure Sphere is a hardware architecture, OS, and Azure service for implementing secure microcontroller-based Internet of Things solutions.
• The offering could help secure Internet communications with devices, such as sensors used to predict maintenance needs for industrial equipment.
• The offering is at an early stage and will require an Azure service.

Azure Sphere, announced in Apr. 2018, is an end-to-end Microsoft solution for building connected microcontroller units (MCUs), the software that drives them, and security mechanisms for communicating with them. Organizations that build or work with IoT devices could benefit from security, connectivity, and standardization that may be delivered by Sphere, but existing devices will require reimplementation, and the solution depends on Azure services.

Internet of Things Solutions on MCUs

MCUs are low-level hardware processors that drive the functionality of electronic devices ranging from consumer products, such as kitchen appliances, to industrial equipment, such as sensors and controllers used on manufacturing assembly lines. MCUs have been produced by many vendors, using various hardware and software architectures, for decades. An MCU is typically designed and programmed only to perform specific functionality for the device in which it is installed without external network connectivity.