https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2021 MSP 501 Application
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2021 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2021 MSP 501 Application
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2021 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Digital Service Providers
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • CHANNEL PARTNERS ONLINE
 Channel Futures

Cloud


IoT

Microsoft Reveals Secure End-to-End IoT Solution from Edge to Cloud

  • Written by Jeffrey Schwartz
  • April 17, 2018
Microsoft kicked off the annual RSA Conference with the introduction of Azure Sphere, which the company claims will bring turnkey security to IoT with a secure OS embedded onto a microcontroller to power edge devices with connectivity to the cloud.

Microsoft president Brad Smith Monday revealed an ambitious plan to offer “an end-to-end IoT solution” that the company claims will provide complete security from the edge to the cloud.

Azure Sphere will consist of embedded processors for the edge based on a new secure OS from Microsoft, embedded hardware and solution from an emerging ecosystem of partners and cloud-security services.

Smith introduced Azure Sphere at a news conference held during the first day of the annual RSA Conference, taking place this week in San Francisco. Azure Sphere promises to give partners a new and lower-cost means of creating a new generation of solutions that use smart and connected endpoints with improved threat protection, management and overall security.

The development of Azure Sphere is the culmination of a high-priority research effort kicked off in 2015 by Microsoft Research, which Smith described as among the most unique initiatives undertaken by Microsoft in its 43-year history.

Smith, who is also the company’s chief legal officer and the public face of the company’s security and privacy stance, isn’t typically the front-man for technology launches, nor his he known for hyperbole, making his characterization of Azure Sphere notable. “It goes where no company has gone before,” said Smith. 

Microsoft’s Brad Smith at RSA Conference, April 16, 2018

Indeed, the new edge OS for Azure Sphere consists of a custom Linux kernel distribution, a move that appears to shed more light on last month’s major reorganization that broke up the Windows and Devices group into the new Cloud + AI Platform, led by Scott Guthrie, and Devices and Experiences run by Rajesh Jha, culminating with the departure of Windows chief Terry Myerson. A week later, Microsoft announced its plan to invest $5 billion in IoT technology, centered around bringing more intelligence and security to the edge.

Azure Sphere aims to address that with three components:

  • Azure Sphere Microcontroller Units (MCUs): New microprocessors the size of a fingernail will incorporate real-time processing with Microsoft’s security communications subsystem, called “Pluton.”
  • Azure Sphere OS: This new Linux kernel will provide a defense-in-depth OS with multiple layers of security, which Microsoft claims is not available in current real-time operating systems (RTOSes), using security technology it has offered in Windows and a “highly-secured” platform for IoT.
  • Azure Sphere Security Service: A complete service that monitors each Azure Sphere device using certificate-based authentication to provide trusted communications among devices and cloud services that provides threat detection, failure reports and support for device patching.

“Each Azure Sphere chip will include our Microsoft Pluton security subsystem, run the Azure Sphere OS, and connect to the Azure Sphere Security Service for simple and secure updates, failure reporting and authentication,” said Galen Hunt, Microsoft’s managing director for Azure Sphere, in a blog. The first Azure Sphere-certified chip will come from Taiwan-based MediaTek. The Wi-Fi connected MT3620 controller will provide connectivity from smart devices to the new Azure Sphere service and partner solutions.

“What we are delivering together will be the foundation for a new generation of secure intelligent-edge devices and solutions,” Hunt noted.

“MediaTek is a good partner to have,” said Laura DiDio, principal analyst with ITIC. “They will provide a Wi-Fi controller, the processor will run Microsoft’s Linux-based IoT OS and you’ve now got a highly secure, connected device at a decent price point.”

Other partnerships are in the works, Smith said, noting that 9 billion MCUs are expected to ship this year. One of the reasons Windows 10 IoT (and Windows Embedded before it) hasn’t gained the gained the momentum to other Linux-based IoT embedded OSes, was the overhead and cost. To offer a competitive solution, Microsoft is offering the MCUs free to chip manufacturers, as Microsoft moves to jump-start its new ecosystem.

“The researchers at Microsoft Research have made advances to strengthen the power of these chips and to put that power to work to protect people’s security around the world,” Smith said.

Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst and founder of Moor Insights & Technology, said that smarter and more secure MCUs are necessary, but providing an edge-to-cloud turnkey offering is technically complex.

“End-to-end security is hard to do but is needed to do to broad scale IoT right,” Moorhead said. “To maximize the degree of success, Microsoft must show a road map into the future and show details on how this isn’t a lock-in.”

Smith said claimed the system will be extensible.

“If a customer wants to continue to integrate these MCU-based devices with AWS or the Google Cloud or cloud services from IBM or Oracle or Alibaba or literally anyone else, they can do that,” he said.

Microsoft said it plans to release software developer kits for Azure Sphere supported by its Visual Studio tools next quarter with volume shipments of MCUs expected to arrive later in the year.

Tags: Cloud Service Providers Digital Service Providers MSPs VARs/SIs Cloud Mobility Security Strategy

Related


  • New Hire
    Cybereason Hires Check Point, Fortinet Channel Leaders in North America Expansion
    The channel leaders will expand Cybereason's endpoint business.
  • Businessman stepping up ladder
    Andy Jassy of AWS Is Movin' On Up: Partners React
    Find out what some of your peers and suppliers have to say about Jassy becoming Amazon CEO.
  • Growth depiction
    UK Channel Expects Big Growth in 2021, Cybersecurity a Big Driver
    Many partners view COVID-19 delays as one of the least important challenges they face.
  • Assessment
    CompTIA Rolls Out New Tech Vendor Assessment Tool
    Vendors may be overestimating their own channel readiness.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Vendors: How Do You Measure a Partner Relationship?
  • Public Sector IT Funding Outlook for 2021--and What It Means for Our Reseller Partners
  • IBM, Oracle, Dell, VMware Put Hybrid Cloud Center Stage
  • Black History Month: Celebrating Tech Pioneers

Galleries

View all

Channel Partners Virtual 2021 Is the Hottest Ticket in Town

February 26, 2021

Industry Perspectives

View all

Backup Vulnerability: 4 Targets Hackers Might Utilize to Infiltrate Your Backup Solution

March 2, 2021

The “Roaring 20s” Are Coming

February 25, 2021

Three Ways MSPs Can Improve Supply Chain Security

February 24, 2021

Webinars

View all

A Partner’s Perspective on Channel Success in 2021

March 23, 2021

XDR and Why it Matters to MSPs

March 24, 2021

Top Security Trends Impacting Technology Security Providers In 2021

March 25, 2021

White Papers

View all

Why Fortinet for my MSSP?

March 2, 2021

Small and Mid-Size Business Security: 4 Steps to Success

March 2, 2021

How SMBs Can Secure Endpoints and Remote Workers for the Long Haul

March 2, 2021

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Virtual

March 2, 2021 - March 4, 2021

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

November 1, 2021 - November 4, 2021

Videos and Fastchats

View all

FASTCHAT: How SOAR Eliminates Security Challenges and Elevates Service Provider Revenues

January 6, 2021

Happy Holidays from Channel Partners & Channel Futures!

December 21, 2020

FASTCHAT: How Old, Unpatched Technologies Are Creating New Security Threats for MSPs and Their Customers

December 3, 2020

Twitter

ChannelFutures

Learn about the merging of our media websites; plus, a new #MSP Summit this fall. @Channel_Expo… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

March 3, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@KnowBe4 acquires @MediaPROInc to beef up #cybersecurity training. dlvr.it/RtvdpB https://t.co/FzseCn4K6A

March 3, 2021
ChannelFutures

#COVID19 is ramping up #socialengineering – time for MSSPs to step in. @Electric_AI dlvr.it/RtvRQc https://t.co/ebTJNJcOxz

March 3, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@pluribusnet launches expanded, simplified partner program. #SDN dlvr.it/RtvGtQ https://t.co/bRDqYLEhXJ

March 3, 2021
ChannelFutures

#SupplyChain agility is changing global distribution patterns and #ictservices, says @NeecoICT.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

March 3, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@Centrify, @Thycotic merging, creating potential challenge to PAM leader @CyberArk. #cybersecurity… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

March 3, 2021
ChannelFutures

RT @Channel_Expo: Day 2 of #CPVirtual is live! 👏 In this preview, @Craig_Galbraith highlights some of the biggest sessions and activities y…

March 3, 2021
ChannelFutures

RT @ChannelEurope: Daniel Warelow of @GiacomCM & Kelvin Murray of @Webroot say companies must take comprehensive approach to address #malwa…

March 3, 2021

MSSP Insider

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Channel Partners Online

Want more? Find more channel news and analysis on our sister site, Channel Partners.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Online
  • Channel Partners Events
  • MSP 501
  • MSSP Insider
  • IoT World Today
  • Webhostingtalk

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X