1. home
  2. #tags
  3. Assembly

Discover Latest #Assembly News, Articles and Videos with Contenting

The Assembly has been featured in the following news articles, videos and other media. 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009

Secure your website wherever you are (Sponsored by SSLs.com)

Show your company is legit, from $36.88ad

Buy a domain and everything else you need (Sponsored By namecheap.com)

adad

The Role of PCBs in Cybersecurity - Information Security Consulting Company - VISTA InfoSec

As fraudsters are continuously finding new ways to strike, we’re continuously finding new ways to prevent them with controls such as encryption, multi-factor authentication, fraud detection software, etc. But not everyone is aware that it all begins with how electronic devices are designed. With the way Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are laid out and built, to be precise. This assembly is far more important for cybersecurity than you might think. It affects how secure the hardware is, as well as how well data stays safe. So, no wonder that the global PCBs market is expected to reach $95.4 billion by 2027 with an annual growth rate of 5.2%. But wait. Didn’t PCBs use to just connect things? How did they come to matter in cybersecurity? Stick with me till the end of this article, and we’ll find out! Understanding Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) To understand their role in cybersecurity, you must first understand how PCBs work. Put simply, they’re the nervous systems of probably all electronic devices you possess. We refer to them like this because PCBs are designed to connect electronic components, such as microprocessors, sensors, display modules, etc., so that devices can work smoothly as a whole. Let me give you an example. Let’s say you want to open Instagram on your phone. As soon as you tap the app icon, the PCB connects your phone processor to its memory and display and VOILÀ. You can suddenly scroll through your feed and view images and videos with exceptional speed. The same goes for any activity you wish to perform on your laptop, smartwatch, tablet, or any other electronic device. Dialing, typing, browsing the web… PCBs make it all happen. As far as their design goes, PCBs almost never look the same; their size and shape depend on the device they’re meant for. Their material used to be somewhat standard, as most PCBs were made of fiberglass accompanied by epoxy resin, also known as FR4. But as Flexible PCB Assembly came onto the scene, things have changed. We now have more flexible PCBs made of substrates such as polyimide or polyester that can be shaped and bent in any way the device’s structure and components require. This is ideal for small, compact devices such as wearables and foldable smartphones, as well as for medical implants.   Now that we understand the basics, let’s focus on their role in cybersecurity. Why PCBs matter in cybersecurity When looking for ways to protect our devices against fraud, we always turn to external defenses. We implement fraud detection software, encrypt our information, and use multi-factor authentication, not having the slightest idea that the inside assembly also plays a huge role. However, manufacturers DO. This is why it’s extremely important for them to design electronic devices with security in mind. That is, to only use PCBs with robust security features. While they’re not directly related to cybersecurity, their design and integrity help strengthen the security of electronic devices and systems. Let’s go over some aspects in which they’re related: Hardware security The hardware level within electronic devices is extremely important when security is in question, as no other security layer is harder for attackers to bypass than the foundational one. All other security measures, including software and network security, are simply built upon it. This is also why secure hardware design on PCBs matters. It makes sure that security features are deeply rooted in the device, making it all the more difficult for unauthorized access and tampering. Here are some examples of hardware security measures implemented in PCBs: Hardware encryption: When it comes to PCBs, hardware encryption means integrating specialized chips or modules onto the circuit board. They’ll handle all encryption and decryption tasks at the hardware level so that all data you store and transmit through the PCB stays secure. This literally means cutting off the attackers at the source.   Trusted platform module (TPM): A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a microcontroller chip that’s embedded in a computer to improve its security and privacy. The TPM can securely store and generate cryptographic keys, passwords, certificates, and encryption keys. It can also store measurements of the boot process to help ensure the platform’s integrity. The TPM includes physical security mechanisms to make it tamper-resistant, and malicious software can’t interfere with its security functions. Each TPM chip has a unique RSA key that’s embedded into it during production, which can be used for device authentication. Secure boot: When implemented in PCBs, these mechanisms can make the difference between good and bad in terms of software. They’ll make sure that as soon as you turn it on, only trusted and approved software can start and run on your device. We also have the tamper detection sensors, which, although not associated with cybersecurity, are still worth mentioning. They’re responsible for detecting if someone physically tries to tamper with your device but are also trained to respond by wiping data or disabling the device. Performance and reliability When well-designed, PCBs help network security appliances continue working well without compromising their speed and reliability. This means that they’ll handle their tasks without slowing down or causing problems, even if they’re under heavy use or dealing with a lot of data. By handling tasks, we mean protecting the networks they’re supposed to, such as: Corporate networks that are usually used by businesses or organizations and are meant to secure everything on the inside – communication, data, and resources; Government networks, which are obviously used by government agencies to guard the citizens’ sensitive information against all kinds of malicious attacks; Financial networks that are used in banks and other financial institutions to ensure the security of financial transactions and customer data; Healthcare networks that are used by hospitals and other healthcare facilities in order to keep patients’ information secure and comply with healthcare regulations. These are all different networks, meaning they vary in size and security requirements. What they have in common is that they’re all protected and powered