In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the importance of hardware security cannot be overstated. As we continue to integrate digital solutions into every facet of our lives, ensuring the integrity and resilience of the devices we rely on becomes a paramount concern. CypherLink‘s Hardware Secure™ services offer a multifaceted approach to security that can provide the confidence required to deliver a well rounded and safe product for your organization and it’s customers.

Whether an off the shelf system or custom built hardware, CypherLink‘s approach to the security of your product encompasses the entire lifecycle from design to delivery.

Ensuring the security of hardware components can be a monumental task to overcome without the expertise and knowledge required. Most companies will simply review your system for known vulnerabilities or misconfiguration. Our team can guarantee confidence in the security of your entire product line.

Our Hardware Secure™ services encompass a thorough review, assessment, and remediation process. To provide a general overview, here’s what you can anticipate from this procedure:

1. Hardware Components:

Processor (CPU/SoC):
The central processing unit (CPU) serves as the brain of a device, executing instructions. Ensuring the integrity of the CPU is vital to prevent unauthorized access and manipulation.

Memory (RAM):
Volatile storage where data is temporarily stored during processing. Encryption and secure handling are essential to protect sensitive information.

Storage (Hard Drives, SSDs):
Non-volatile storage where data is permanently stored. Encryption, secure boot processes, and regular security updates are crucial.

Peripheral Devices:
Input/output devices, such as USB drives, can be potential vectors for malware. Strong access controls and regular driver updates enhance security.


2. Services or Protocols:

Network Security:
Protocols like TLS/SSL, firewalls, ACLs, and intrusion detection systems protect data during transmission.

Firmware Security:
Ensuring up-to-date and authenticated firmware is crucial. Insecure firmware can be exploited by attackers to compromise the device.

Authentication & Authorization Mechanisms:
Implementing strong authentication methods, such as biometrics, adds an extra layer of security.

3. Supply Chain Risks:

Counterfeit Components:
Use of counterfeit or substandard components can compromise device security. A secure supply chain and regular audits are paramount to a successful product and company.

Malicious Insertions:
Attackers might introduce malicious code or hardware during manufacturing. Regular audits and transparent supply chain practices will mitigate this risk.

Third-Party Dependencies:
Relying on third-party components introduces additional risks. Regularly assessing and validating third-party vendors’ security practices is essential.

4. Software Components/Open Source Code:

Operating Systems:
Choice of the operating system impacts security. Regular updates and patches are essential to address vulnerabilities. Whether the system relies upon *nix, Windows, RTOS or a custom (bare-metal) variant, the OS is the prime target of any malicious actor.

Device Drivers:
Ensuring secure and up-to-date drivers is critical for system stability and security.

Middleware and Libraries:
Regularly updating and patching these components is essential to address known vulnerabilities. Audits of the current release packages can provide additional guarantees of security.

Embedded Systems:
Securing embedded systems is a difficult but necessary task. Preventing unauthorized access or manipulation can require a highly complex ecosystem or configuration. Our team of experts will assess your system and offer guidance to build a robust and secure product.

Hardware Bill of Materials (HBOM):
Accurate documentation of all hardware components is an absolute must. The HBOM ensures transparency in the supply chain and aids in identifying and addressing potential vulnerabilities.

5. Security Testing:

Vulnerability Assessment:
Our team performs automated or dynamic analysis using a custom suite of tools tailored to fit your organization’s hardware ecosystem. Regular and timely assessments are a necessity.

Penetration Testing:
Simulate real-world attacks to identify and address potential weaknesses within the hardware and internal processes. These activities will determine the capability and expertise of your internal team(s) to handle attacks, disaster recovery, and loss of business systems at critical moments.

Code Reviews:
Conduct regular security code reviews during the development process. Static code analysis can ensure both a better design and improved security posture.

Quality Assurance:
Determining the appropriate level of internal quality assurance testing can be difficult. In combination with other activities performed, bugs will minimal and security will be improved!

6. Handling Disclosed CVEs & 0-Day Vulnerabilities:

CVE Tracking:
It’s imperative to monitor vulnerability and security feeds to stay up to date with the latest changes within the industry. A single bug can wreak havoc across nations or vital critical infrastructure. Keeping an eye out for CVE’s that can impact you and your product are an important aspect of CypherLink’s Hardware Secure™ process!

Patch Management:
Implementing a robust and automated patch management system to promptly apply security updates and fixes will improve your response time and shrink the time of exposure.

Security Response Team:
CypherLink’s dedicated response team always has your back! Whether a question about a recent vulnerability, curiosity about a design pattern that may not mesh with the current infrastructure, or simply in need of assistance from an expert; having a dedicated team to respond to security incidents and vulnerabilities is essential.

The Overall Process

Design:
The design phase should always encompass your security plans. We’ll be there to assist and provide our insight.

Development:
Following secure coding practices and conducting regular security code reviews are important. Additional static analysis and automation assist in reviewing your hardware and/or software.

Deploy:
Ensure secure deployment practices are in place. Onboarding, offboarding, key and credential storage, and overall implementation of the deployment pipeline require an extensive and thorough review.

Monitor:
There are a variety of generic tools to scan or monitor your internal systems. CypherLink has implemented our own personal tooling that allows us to automate and actively monitor a large portion of the entire ecosystem 24/7! As each new vulnerability or change occurs, so does our tooling. We continue to improve our internal tools and processes so that you can focus on yours.

Assess & Remediate:
Monitoring tools and well-defined incident response plans are a great goal. At the end of the day, those security issues must be remediated, properly. Depending on the industry sector, type of vulnerability, and impact it could cause; a variety of tasks must be completed. We’ll work with your team to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to secure the data, stop the attack, and remediate the system.

Lessons Learned:
The lessons learned during a cyber security incident are important. Transition those into lessons learned so that this is the one and only time ta similar mistake occurs.

Custom hardware and embedded systems offer a challenge for cyber security experts around the world. Maintaining a secure environment requires a highly specific set of skills and expertise. Our team and the Hardware Secure™ services we offer can provide you and your organization with the assurance and comfort required to trust. Real experts using real world tactics to ensure your systems are impenetrable!

If you have custom hardware or commercial products that you would like to have reviewed, don’t hesitate to reach out via the form below and find out how CypherLink can help you ensure a quality and secure product delivered on time and on budget.