We work closely with our customers to understand their needs related to user privacy and data protection, while also looking at industry trends and potential vulnerabilities.
A specific area of growth, and vulnerability, is the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). What began as a means of machine-to-machine communication has evolved into a complex network of millions of connected devices worldwide.
As a result of IoT growth, Micron’s innovation focus today includes not only storage solutions for vast amounts of new data, but also security for IoT devices. Global research and advisory company Gartner estimates that by 2020, more than 25% of identified enterprise attacks will involve IoT. The threat is far-reaching, given how susceptible embedded systems, which are in everything from factory automation equipment to automobiles to smart home devices, are to cyberattacks.
As everyday smart devices become high-risk entry points for cybercriminals, Micron’s Authenta™ technology provides a layer of defensive hardware reinforcements to our existing nonvolatile memory sockets, without adding new components. This unique security solution has increased Micron’s value as a memory provider for IoT devices. In 2018, we introduced a new MT25Q NOR flash enabled with Authenta technology. This memory solution introduces a new level of hardware-based security that not only enhances the integrity of the connected device itself, but also extends protection to the software that runs on the device.
Technologies like Authenta build upon Micron’s market and industry leadership. We are an active member of the Trusted Computing Group — an industry standards body that develops and maintains the open standards and specifications for self-encrypting drives (SEDs) and other trusted devices. A decade ago, we launched one of the industry’s first solid-state SEDs intended for mobile computing and have since developed drives that meet the rigorous Federal Information Processing Standards.