Infineon vs ST Microelectronics.
Infineon states they have has started the process to pass the Common Criteria EAL4+. Back in September ST Micro's TPM was already certified EAL5+. I would assume that's a marketing advantage for ST Micro.
January 24, 2007 Infineon Technologies announced availability of a new software suite version for management of computers using Trusted Platform Modules (TPM) in enterprise environments.
Together with the currently shipping Infineon Trusted Platform Module (TPM) v1.2, the TPM Professional Package builds a comprehensive and Windows Vista Ready secure solution compliant with the Trusted Computing Group’s (TCG) 1.2 specification.
The TPM Professional Package v3.0 features a wide range of secure management capabilities enabling system administrators in enterprise and SOHO (Small Office/ Home Office) environments to securely manage TPM-enabled desktops and notebooks, including setting policies, handling backup and restore, and securely migrating critical protected information from one TPM to another. The Infineon solution, which already supports several available operating systems, such as Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, is now Windows Vista Ready as a result of a close cooperation with Microsoft.
The Infineon TPM v1.2 solution simplifies customer data protection through support of the Microsoft Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption. PC manufacturers benefit from the complete Infineon TPM hardware and software offering since it secures all core components of a security subsystem used for authenticity, integrity and confidentiality of stored data.
Integrated onto the motherboard of a stationary or mobile PC, the TPM helps shield the stored data against unauthorized access and improves the system integrity. This enables more secure data storage, secure online business information exchange and online commerce transactions while protecting privacy. The Infineon TPM is the industry’s smallest for this type of device in a 9.7 mm x 4.4 mm package and it is also suitable for integration on mobile devices mainboards, such as handheld computers and PDAs.
“Building on its strengths, Infineon provides the basis for privacy and protection of information as well as increased user comfort,” said Peter Bauer, member of the management board and president for the Automotive Industrial and Multimarket business group at Infineon Technologies. “Along with an increased awareness for security, Infineon is determined to raise the bar for security and be a leader in this growing market.”
”Security is one of the driving factors for deployments of Windows Vista since many of our customers are looking at the early adoption of Windows Vista because of its numerous security enhancements and functionality,” said David B. Cross, director of program management for Windows Security at Microsoft Corp. “Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption makes optimal use of TPM 1.2 technology to help protect users’ data. The Infineon TPM solution complements the increased security features of Windows Vista and provides significant value to our mutual customers.”
“Meeting the security needs of our business PC customers is a priority at HP,” said Carol Hess-Nickels, director, worldwide business notebook marketing, Personal Systems Group, HP. “Integrating the Infineon TPM Professional Package as Embedded Security for HP ProtectTools across all of our TPM-enabled platforms provides customers with more secure protection of data and credentials. And with Infineon’s support for Windows Vista, customers will have access to a broader range of features designed to help keep their most sensitive data safe.”
“As a technology leader in security, Fujitsu is shipping the Infineon TPM Professional Package across all Fujitsu enterprise notebooks and selected desktops,” said Yasushi Ashikaga, general manager, Personal Systems business unit of Fujitsu Limited. “We chose the Infineon solution because of its manageability features for enterprises, Windows Vista readiness, and high-security standard, which are critical features for our customers.”
The TPM Professional Package is also shipping in desktops and notebooks for several other brands including Epson Direct Corporation, Hitachi, Ltd., NEC Corporation, Sony Corporation, Sotec Co., Ltd, and others.
US market research company IDC predicts approximately 50 million TPMs to be sold in 2006, mainly in business desktops and notebooks. IDC anticipates the TPM market to increase to more than 250 million pieces in 2010. This equals an attach rate of more than 90 percent of all notebooks and desktops.
Technical Details for the Infineon Professional Package v3.0 and TPM 1.2 (SLB 9635 TT 1.2) for Safer Computing
Infineon provides the highest possible performance for TPM systems consisting of secure hardware and complete system software and application software.
The TPM Professional Package v3.0 features application and management functionalities such as backup and restore as well as migration of secrets, policy settings and password handling. It supports multiple operating systems and specifically Microsoft’s new operating system Windows Vista, in both its 32- and 64-bit versions. The multi-language solution provides management functions optimized for use in enterprise environments with central administration of TPM-enabled PCs and notebooks. Additionally, multiple applications are supported such as WLAN security as well as file and folder encryption.
Infineon’s TPM v1.2 is based on the company’s proven family of 16-bit security controllers which was developed for use in high-security chip card applications. To securely store keys and passwords, the Infineon TPM offers state-of-the-art security features, such as an active shielding that sends a continuous stream of random data over the surface of the chip. Apart from active shielding, the chip features a true random number generator (RNG), hardware accelerated RSA crypto algorithms with key lengths of up to 2,048 bit and hash algorithms (where a document, file or computer drive is assigned a unique, cryptographically protected checksum which can be used to recognize manipulation), as required by the Trusted Computing Group specification.
Infineon’s TPM has started the process to pass the world’s strictest security evaluations for hardware security conducted according to internationally accepted standards and to achieve the industry’s highest rating for digital security, the Common Criteria EAL4+ (evaluation assurance level four plus).
Microsoft uses ST's ST19WP18 Trusted Platform Module in Windows Vista development. TPM provides an added element of robustness for BitLocker Drive Encryption feature in Vista.
September 27,2006 - STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), the first company to successfully release a TCG (Trusted Computing Group) 1.2 device, today revealed updated offerings to their family of Trusted Platform Modules (TPM 1.2) with support for the new security features in Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows Vista™ operating system, and in fact has been used by Microsoft in development and testing the new features. Software and data security are central features of Windows Vista, which has been released in Beta form, and expected to launch early in 2007. The TPM, embedded in a computer system motherboard, enables platform validation and core root of trust, user credential management, and provides secure storage for critical data and passwords.
The ST19WP18 is based on a full-featured 8-bit microcomputer from the ST19W family of security-proven MCUs, which is dedicated to smart card and other secure applications, with an advanced 1088-bit cryptographic co-processor supporting Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) functions. This secure microcontroller is now certified to the ‘Common Criteria’ Evaluation Assurance Level EAL5+ (Augmented), one of the highest levels of the ISO15408 standard for this type of product.
The Trusted Computing Group (TCG) is a broad alliance of major hardware and software companies working to create more secure computing environments through the use of secure hardware building blocks and cross-platform software interfaces. The ST19WP18, which entered volume production in mid-2005, is backward compatible with the earlier TCG 1.1b specification ST has already shipped millions, deployed in desktop and laptop computers by leading computer manufacturers.
The ST19WP18 TPM has been tested successfully with the native device driver in Microsoft® Windows Vista, and forms a hardware basis for Vista’s new BitLocker Drive Encryption™ security feature.
“The Trusted Platform Module performs a vital role in Microsoft Windows Vista data protection advancements, and STMicroelectronics has proven to be a world leader in the development of TPM technology,” said Peter Biddle, Product Unit Manager for the System Integrity group at Microsoft. “The TPM enables a hardware root of trust mechanism for our BitLocker Drive Encryption feature in Vista, and ST’s expertise in tamper resistant technology was beneficial in our development of these features. We look forward to further developments along these lines.”
Trusted capabilities are being implemented in the majority of new PC platforms, based on the TCG specifications. In addition to basic validation, the TPM can be used to verify that hardware is unchanged, that the BIOS has not been compromised, and the appropriate and trusted services have been executed. “The need for trusted computing developed as personal computer systems – especially laptop computers and other portable devices – have become more complex and more vulnerable to physical and electronic attack” said Bill Raasch, Vice President of Market Development in ST’s Computer and Peripherals Business Unit, North America Region. “And we are certainly delighted to support these first features Microsoft has chosen to deploy”.
The Vista support is yet another successful development for ST in the ST19WP18 family. ST also provides a full Windows XP software stack, including the core interface, security services framework, and cryptographic support utilities for PC applications that rely on the TPM, plus the BIOS and Windows 2000 and XP drivers. During the first half of 2006, more than 4 million ST19WP18 chips, which implement the latest and most advanced TCG 1.2 specification, were shipped by OEM’s in Windows XP platforms.
In addition to the TCG recommended TSSOP28 package, the low-cost ST19WP18 is also offered in tiny 4.4mm TSSOP28 and ultra-small VPFQFN packages. Budgetary pricing is around $3.00.
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