GlobalPlatform standardises secure OS and firmware loading on secure elements

Gil Bernabeu of GlobalPlatform

GlobalPlatform, the standard for secure digital services and devices, has published its Open Firmware Loader for Tamper Resistant Elements (OFL). The free specification standardises how secure element (SE) firmware – combining the secure operating system (OS), applications and data – can be remotely loaded and managed onto a SE such as SIM, embedded SE or eUICC / eSIM, or integrated SE even after a device has been issued.

This ensures that the device’s longevity is no longer impacted by the lifecycle of the SE, and opens up a range of new use cases like in-field OS and firmware provisioning, device refurbishment, backup / restoration of the SE and the secure transfer of a customer profile to a new device. With the OFL security scheme, handset manufacturers, service providers and firmware implementers can build a new privacy-by- design ecosystem where services can be securely deployed and updated on connected devices.

“The growth of embedded SEs is driving the development of new solutions as, previously, there has not been a standardised way to load the OS to an eUICC after the smartphone has been produced,” says Gil Bernabeu, technical director of GlobalPlatform.

“With the OFL protocol, the selection of an OS can be delayed until the device reaches its destination. So, if a smartphone is manufactured in one country, for example in China, a country-specific OS can be loaded to the eSIM or integrated SE once it reaches France, or the U.S. What’s great is that this also brings greater flexibility further down the line.

Smartphones, connected cars or any other device with an embedded or integrated SE often have more than one owner during their lifecycle. OFL ensures a new OS can replace an existing one and, importantly, a personalised OS and its services can be securely transferred to a new device.”

The OFL protocol enables the industry to:

  • Distribute generic and blank (no firmware/operating system) embedded hardware featuring a standardized loading mechanism. This enables firmware from various developers to be loaded, with policy enforcement, after the issuance of the device.
  • Solve the logistical challenge of distributing devices to fragmented markets with low volume.
  • Distribute new firmware once the device has been issued to address additional use cases.
  • Mitigate the challenges of loading firmware containing diversified data into embedded hardware during manufacturing.
  • Use a standardised loader, shared between multiple silicon makers, allowing firmware implementers to produce loadable OSs.
  • Ensure perfect forward secrecy and confidentiality between firmware makers easing compliancy with the latest data regulations (GDPR).

The publication of the OFL is the first output of GlobalPlatform’s new Fast Track Process. The initiative enables members to bring forward mature technologies for standardisation via an expedited process to more rapidly answer the needs of the market.

“GlobalPlatform technology gives service providers and device manufacturers the means to interact seamlessly when deploying secure digital services, regardless of market or device type. The resulting collaboration makes the mass marketing of secure digital services possible, while bringing time and cost efficiencies to stakeholders within the ecosystem,” concludes Gil.

Comment on this article below or via Twitter: @IoTNow_OR @jcIoTnow

RECENT ARTICLES

Get a US$50 Amazon voucher for sharing your IoT brand knowledge

Posted on: March 28, 2024

We want to know what you know about the IoT space. Just 3 minutes could earn you a US$50 Amazon digital gift card!

Read more

Enhance EV charging performance with cellular connectivity

Posted on: March 28, 2024

Electric vehicles (EVs) are steadily growing their market share at the expense of internal combustion engine vehicles. The growth is fuelled by several factors. Perhaps most importantly, prices for EVs have started to drop as competition in the industry is intensifying. New players and models are emerging, prompting several established EV makers to lower their

Read more
FEATURED IoT STORIES

What is IoT? A Beginner’s Guide

Posted on: April 5, 2023

What is IoT? IoT, or the Internet of Things, refers to the connection of everyday objects, or “things,” to the internet, allowing them to collect, transmit, and share data. This interconnected network of devices transforms previously “dumb” objects, such as toasters or security cameras, into smart devices that can interact with each other and their

Read more

The IoT Adoption Boom – Everything You Need to Know

Posted on: September 28, 2022

In an age when we seem to go through technology boom after technology boom, it’s hard to imagine one sticking out. However, IoT adoption, or the Internet of Things adoption, is leading the charge to dominate the next decade’s discussion around business IT. Below, we’ll discuss the current boom, what’s driving it, where it’s going,

Read more

9 IoT applications that will change everything

Posted on: September 1, 2021

Whether you are a future-minded CEO, tech-driven CEO or IT leader, you’ve come across the term IoT before. It’s often used alongside superlatives regarding how it will revolutionize the way you work, play, and live. But is it just another buzzword, or is it the as-promised technological holy grail? The truth is that Internet of

Read more

Which IoT Platform 2021? IoT Now Enterprise Buyers’ Guide

Posted on: August 30, 2021

There are several different parts in a complete IoT solution, all of which must work together to get the result needed, write IoT Now Enterprise Buyers’ Guide – Which IoT Platform 2021? authors Robin Duke-Woolley, the CEO and Bill Ingle, a senior analyst, at Beecham Research. Figure 1 shows these parts and, although not all

Read more

CAT-M1 vs NB-IoT – examining the real differences

Posted on: June 21, 2021

As industry players look to provide the next generation of IoT connectivity, two different standards have emerged under release 13 of 3GPP – CAT-M1 and NB-IoT.

Read more

IoT and home automation: What does the future hold?

Posted on: June 10, 2020

Once a dream, home automation using iot is slowly but steadily becoming a part of daily lives around the world. In fact, it is believed that the global market for smart home automation will reach $40 billion by 2020.

Read more

5 challenges still facing the Internet of Things

Posted on: June 3, 2020

The Internet of Things (IoT) has quickly become a huge part of how people live, communicate and do business. All around the world, web-enabled devices are turning our world into a more switched-on place to live.

Read more