CPU Technology (CPU Tech), has released Acalis Sentry security server, which is a combination of hardware and software used to encrypt embedded applications and configure security features for Acalis CPU872 secure processors. The Acalis CPU872 secure processor is an embedded processor to address the need to protect critical program information (CPI) as required by DoD Instruction 5200.39.
The company said that Acalis Sentry is used by software developers to protect software binaries and associated data such that only customer-specific CPU872 devices can be used to decrypt and boot those images. The second function of Acalis Sentry is to configure CPU872 security features. Security configurations include on-chip firewall settings, tamper detection responses, tamper detection forensic settings, and various seeds and keys used by the target CPU872.
According to the company, Acalis Sentry gives the development team the ability to compartmentalise the security configuration of a target CPU872. Only the ‘Security Engineer’ associated with a particular project has access to the sensitive information, including key management.
The Acalis Sentry management console, served up by the Acalis Sentry, is the main interface used by the Security Engineer to configure and store the desired security configuration prior to enabling the software development team to use an Acalis Sentry for encryption of software images. Once configured and locked, the server can be located on isolated networks, internal company intranets or even the internet because all sensitive communications with an Acalis Sentry are secured using SSL, the company added.
Clay Johnson, CEO of CPU Tech, said: “CPU Tech has extensive experience evaluating system vulnerabilities and recognises that security is a challenging architectural requirement for software and systems developers. The Acalis Sentry separates the role of the Security Engineer from that of the software developer.
“Designing secure systems requires tools and technology that not only protect the end application, but the development flow as well. Acalis Sentry elevates the protection of the software aspects of the solution to the level of the hardware.”
