News
New Software Solution from Wavecom
As wireless M2M (machine-to-machine) products become more and more sophisticated, the data that they generate are increasingly valuable to the enterprises using it. Designers of such products are therefore often faced with information security and reliability as a key request. Security issues may be related to the device itself and its hosted applications or data, to the TCP/IP link between a field device and the back-end servers, or specifically to the GSM, GPRS or EDGE connection.
With the Open AT(R) Security Plug-In, Wavecom (Paris:AVM) launches a software solution which addresses all these concerns. The Open AT(R) Security Plug-In enables developers of all categories of wireless M2M systems to make sure that important data are securely stored and safely transmitted between a field device and a back-end server, and that illegal jammers are detected as quickly as possible.
For instance, such jammers are used by vehicle thieves to prevent wireless devices from reporting the vehicle position, or building alarm systems from contacting the police. The Open AT(R) Security Plug-In includes a feature that not only allows the application to detect jamming, but also to set the sensitivity of the detection, allowing the application to take appropriate action such as triggering an alarm or making a non-wireless call. Moreover, knowing that ultra-fast adaptation to new threats is key for any security system, Wavecom provides full access to its GSM Spectrum monitoring APIs for advanced customers to adapt jamming detection algorithms to their specific needs.
For business-critical devices that need high-reliability services, the Open AT(R) Security Plug-In provides the capability to access several SIM cards in order to cope with wireless network availability and geographical network coverage issues.
In order to prevent unauthorised users from accessing critical data held within field devices, sensitive information may be stored locally in an encrypted file. The Open AT(R) Security Plug-In features a built-in cryptographic engine which supports the RC2, RC4, DES, Triple DES and AES256 encryption protocols. Moreover, Wavecom provides a Secure Data Storage mechanism to ensure secure storage of the encryption keys.
Data transferred from on-field devices to back-end servers travel across several potentially unsafe zones. In terms of IP (Internet Protocol) security, Wavecom's SSL 3.0/TLS 1.0 functionality is based on the Open SSL implementation and supports server and field device authentication, encryption, integrity, non-repudiation and multiple sessions over multiple bearers, ensuring a secure end-to-end connection. Wavecom also offers the SSL-secured version of its existing FTP and HTTP clients, turning them into FTPS and HTTPS clients. Finally, in order to optimize the data exchange over the GSM/GPRS/EDGE bearers, the SSL supports the "resume session" feature.
Unique in the wireless M2M communications field, the Open AT(R) Security Plug-In is a "one stop shop" security solution covering all security-related aspects locally as well as remotely.
Mr Alain Lacour, CEO of LYRA Networks, France, commented: "When developing our L2MG product, which addresses the POS (Point of Sales) and ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) markets, the advantages of the Security Plug-In became clear as we were very rapidly able to develop a product that not only meets the stringent banking security standards, but also adapts its capabilities depending on communication channels - GPRS or Ethernet - to ensure the lowest cost of operation. In the meantime, using the Open AT(R) Operating System reduced both the design complexity and the cost of the terminal. But above all, being able to seamlessly target the Latin American as well as the Europe, Middle East and African market was of the utmost importance for LYRA. That requirement was easily met by using Wavecom Wireless CPU(R)s which natively support worldwide coverage."
The Open AT(R) Security Plug-In will initially be made available for the complete Wireless Microprocessor(R) family, the Q26 Series, Q64, Q52 Omni and Fastrack Supreme, providing seamless portability of customer software from one platform to another thanks to the new common operating system.
Visit our website for more information on this new software product: www.wavecom.com/securityplugin
About Wavecom
Wavecom is a leading provider of smart-device communications technology for innovative M2M (Machine to Machine) business solutions. Built on unparalleled wireless expertise, Wavecom solutions include a range of Wireless CPU(R)s (microcontrollers with built-in wireless communication capability), backed by the Open AT(R) Software Suite with its own real-time operating system, an integrated development environment and a wide range of Plug-Ins. These complete embedded solutions, which use chipsets tailored to M2M markets, enable makers of all types of machines to develop a new breed of intelligent wireless applications without the need of external processors. Wavecom also provides an industry-leading portfolio of operated services which enable the remote monitoring and upgrade of devices in the field.
Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris (France), Wavecom's main subsidiaries are located in Hong Kong (PRC), Research Triangle Park, NC (USA) and Farnborough (UK). Wavecom is publicly traded on Euronext Paris in France (AVM) and on the NASDAQ exchange in the USA (WVCM). www.wavecom.com