* A look at Phoenix Technologies’ TrustedCore SP2 firmware
Phoenix Technologies, one of the major makers of PC and server BIOS, last week unveiled software to make servers more secure and reliable.
Phoenix’s TrustedCore SP2 firmware for x86-based servers protects them and their data before the operating system and applications load. The TrustedCore SP2 platform includes Phoenix’s CoreArchitect development tool, which is designed to make it easier and faster to bring x86-based products to market.
The TrustedCore SP2 platform also implements requirements of Microsoft’s Windows Vista such as support for the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface and the Trusted Computing Group’s Trusted Platform Module 1.2, which ensures that malicious code can’t attack a device so early in the boot process that the server can’t thwart the attack. Windows Vista is expected to be released in late 2005.
TrustedCore enables systems vendors to create trusted and self-authenticating servers, reassuring government and other organizations that they are using a trusted device.
Phoenix is making available a set of APIs to let third-party vendors integrate two-factor authentication devices, such as biometric fingerprint sensors and smart tokens.
TrustedCore Service Pack 2 has nearly 20 new features. Among them are authentication of the firmware itself via an embedded cryptographic engine called StrongROM; authentication of the master boot record, which prevents tampering with the operating system or hard disk; and incorporation of the UEFI boot loader.
TrustedCore can be used in Intel 32-bit servers and AMD 64-bit servers. It is supported by NetWare 5.x and 6.x.
TrustedCore SP2 is expected to ship next month.
