Managing IoT Security: Why a Secure Element Isn’t Enough Without PKI
About Brendan Henrich
Brendan Henrich is a Senior Field Applications Engineer at Symmetry Electronics, specializing in wireless semiconductor technologies such as Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, LoRa®, and Cellular. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering and has over 10 years of experience supporting complex projects for industry leaders, including Dell Technologies, NVIDIA, and Silicon Labs. Brendan is passionate about wireless technology and education and is currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, aiming to inspire and mentor the next generation of engineers.
We’ve all been there: the dreaded trip to the DMV (or RMV, depending on where you live). Long lines, endless forms, and bureaucratic headaches are part of the experience. Now, imagine managing not a few thousand drivers, but the digital identities of your entire fleet of IoT devices. That’s what handling Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) without the right tools feels like.
Many IoT products come equipped with secure elements—hardware modules that act as secure wallets for storing sensitive information like certificates. But just having a secure wallet isn't enough. Imagine if everyone carried their driver’s license in a super-secure wallet, but there was no DMV to issue, renew, or revoke those licenses. That’s why you still need a PKI management system, like SEALSQ’s INeS IoT Identity Platform, to handle the “DMV” functions of managing certificates.
What is PKI?
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a system used to create, manage, and revoke digital certificates—think of them as digital “licenses” for your IoT devices. Just as a driver’s license verifies your identity and permission to drive, these certificates authenticate devices and enable secure communication with cloud services like AWS and Azure.
The Challenge: Managing IoT Certificates
Managing these digital “licenses” for thousands or even millions of devices can feel like running a DMV for IoT. Certificates need to be issued, renewed, and sometimes revoked, just like driver’s licenses. Each cloud service, much like different states, has its own requirements. Without the right tools, navigating this landscape can become overwhelming, risking security breaches and operational downtime.
What Can Go Wrong with Certificates?
Digital certificates are essential for securing IoT devices, but they can pose significant challenges:
Digital Certificate Risks
Expiration: If certificates aren’t renewed on time, devices lose connectivity to cloud services, disrupting operations.
Compromise: A hacked device’s certificate can be misused, similar to how a stolen driver’s license can be exploited. Revoking it promptly is crucial to prevent unauthorized access.
Misconfiguration: Incorrectly configured certificates can lead to communication failures and data breaches.
Compatibility: To ensure that the device can connect and operate within secured ecosystems like “Matter” for Smart Home, the certificate’s content and format need to comply with specific guidelines and it must be issued (signed) by a trusted authority… just like your driver’s lice
Compromise: A hacked device’s certificate can be misused, similar to how a stolen driver’s license can be exploited. Revoking it promptly is crucial to prevent unauthorized access.
Misconfiguration: Incorrectly configured certificates can lead to communication failures and data breaches.
Compatibility: To ensure that the device can connect and operate within secured ecosystems like “Matter” for Smart Home, the certificate’s content and format need to comply with specific guidelines and it must be issued (signed) by a trusted authority… just like your driver’s lice
Why is Certificate Management Hard Without PKI?
Without automated PKI, Issuing, managing and revoking certificates is a manual, time-consuming process that doesn’t scale. Delays in updating devices leave vulnerabilities exposed, and managing revocations across large IoT deployments is nearly impossible, risking security breaches and operational failures.
SEALSQ’s INeS: The DMV for IoT Certificates
SEALSQ’s INeS platform acts as a streamlined DMV for your IoT devices, centralizing and automating certificate management. Just as the DMV simplifies the process of handling driver’s licenses, INeS makes managing IoT device identities straightforward, secure, and scalable.
Key Features of INeS:
- Automated Issuance and Renewal: Automatically generate and renew certificates, reducing manual work and minimizing the risk of expired credentials.
- Scalable Management: Efficiently manage a small fleet or a global network of millions of devices, just like a modern DMV handles licenses for millions of drivers.
- Security and Compliance: Ensure all certificates meet the requirements of various cloud providers, providing the right “license” for every service and keeping your IoT devices secure and compliant.
- Root-Of-Trust accredited by major industry ecosystems (MATTER, GSMA, WI-Sun etc.)
- Automated Revocation: Instantly revoke compromised certificates and update all devices in real-time, eliminating security risks from compromised or expired certificates.
- Firmware signature for safe firmware updates
Why Choose SEALSQ and Symmetry Electronics?
Symmetry Electronics (a division of Braemac), in partnership with SEALSQ, offers a comprehensive solution for secure IoT deployments. Our wireless MCUs, equipped with secure elements, provide a solid foundation for storing digital certificates. Combined with INeS, you can automate and simplify device identity management, ensuring secure and seamless cloud connectivity throughout the device lifecycle.
In the complex world of IoT, think of SEALSQ’s INeS as your trusted DMV for managing the “licenses” your devices need to securely operate. Simplify your PKI management, reduce risk, and focus on innovation—leave the security logistics to us.
Grab Your Free Trial of SEALSQ’S INeS Platform!
About Brendan Henrich
Brendan Henrich is a Senior Field Applications Engineer at Symmetry Electronics, specializing in wireless semiconductor technologies such as Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, LoRa®, and Cellular. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering and has over 10 years of experience supporting complex projects for industry leaders, including Dell Technologies, NVIDIA, and Silicon Labs. Brendan is passionate about wireless technology and education and is currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, aiming to inspire and mentor the next generation of engineers.