Engineering Secure Devices

This practical guide to building embedded and IoT devices securely is an essential resource for current and future developers tasked with protecting users from the potential threats of these ubiquitous devices.

With the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the increased connectivity of smart devices that rely on an embedded computer system at their core, the need for affordable yet effective security measures is higher than ever. This book takes you on a tour through the jungle of potential risks and protection measures, as well as the reasoning behind them, and practical implementation examples.

Based on hands-on experience and recent research insights, the journey starts with the basics for a secure development process and summarizes the cryptographic essentials relevant for practical security engineering. Next you’ll explore embedded security building blocks like random number generators, implementations options for cryptographic algorithms, secure data storage, unique device identities, and protected communication channels. Later chapters cover advanced device concepts like secure boot and firmware update processes, access control management, and system monitoring. Several case studies throughout will bridge the gap between theory and real-world practices, demonstrating the advantages--or disadvantages--of different implementations.

Dominik Merli is a professor for IT security at the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, with more than a decade of experience in security engineering research and the implementation of practical protection measures. His research on embedded systems’ security for industrial, automotive, and semiconductor companies led to his PhD at the Technical University of Munich, after which he worked on security innovations for industrial products at Siemens before entering the education field.