Microsoft introduces Revolutionary Security-First CPU design the Pluton Processor

Microsoft is using Azure Sphere, the chip-to-cloud security technologies that protect their Xbox consoles to create a new vision for Windows security. Microsoft in collaboration with their biggest Silicon partners AMD, Intel and Qualcomm Technologies is introducing the Microsoft Pluton security processor. This will bring even more security advancements to future Windows PCs and signals the beginning of a journey with ecosystem and OEM partners.

Microsoft’s vision for the future of Windows PCs is security at the very core, built into the CPU, for a more integrated approach where the hardware and software are tightly integrated, ultimately removing entire vectors of attack. This revolutionary security processor design will make it significantly more difficult for attackers to hide beneath the operating system, and improve being able to guard against physical attacks, prevent the theft of credential and encryption keys, and provide the ability to recover from software bugs.

The heart of the operating system security on most PCs lives in a chip separate from the CPU and is called the Trusted Platform Module (TPM). The TPM is a hardware component which is used to help securely store keys and measurements that verify the integrity of the system. TPMs have been supported in Windows for more than 10 years and power many critical technologies such as Windows Hello and BitLocker. Given the effectiveness of the TPM at performing critical security tasks, attackers have begun to innovate ways to attack it, particularly in situations where an attacker can steal or temporarily gain physical access to a PC. These sophisticated attack techniques target the communication channel between the CPU and TPM, which is typically a bus interface. This bus interface provides the ability to share information between the main CPU and security processor, but it also provides an opportunity for attackers to steal or modify information in-transit using a physical attack.

The Pluton design removes the potential for that communication channel to be attacked by building security directly into the CPU. Windows PCs using the Pluton architecture will first emulate a TPM that works with the existing TPM specifications and APIs which will allow customers to immediately benefit from enhanced security for Windows features that rely on TPMs like BitLocker and System Guard. Windows devices with Pluton will use the Pluton security processor to protect credentials, user identities, encryption keys, and personal data. None of this information can be removed from Pluton even if an attacker has installed malware or has complete physical possession of the PC.

This is accomplished by storing sensitive data like encryption keys securely within the Pluton processor which is isolated from the rest of the system, helping to ensure that emerging attack techniques, like speculative execution, cannot access key material. Pluton also provides the unique Secure Hardware Cryptography Key (SHACK) technology that helps ensure keys are never exposed outside of the protected hardware, even to the Pluton firmware itself, providing an unprecedented level of security for Windows customers.

According to AMD, security is their top priority, and they are proud to work with Microsoft on this.  “AMD and Microsoft have been closely partnering to develop and continuously improve processor-based security solutions, beginning with the Xbox One console and now in the PC. We design and build our products with security in mind and bringing Microsoft’s Pluton technology to the chip level will enhance the already strong security capabilities of our processors.”  Says Jason Thomas, head of product security, AMD.

Intel is continuing to partner with Microsoft as they advance the security of Windows PC platforms.

“The introduction of Microsoft Pluton into future Intel CPUs will further enable integration between Intel hardware and the Windows operating system.” According to Mike Nordquist, Sr. Director, Commercial Client Security, Intel.

Asaf Shen, senior director of product management at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. added “Qualcomm Technologies is pleased to continue its work with Microsoft to help make a slew of devices and use cases more secure. We believe an on-die, hardware-based Root-of-Trust like the Microsoft Pluton is an important component in securing multiple use cases and the devices enabling them

Microsoft believes that processors with built-in security like Pluton are the future of computing hardware. With Pluton, their vision is to provide a more secure foundation for the intelligent edge and the intelligent cloud by extending this level of built-in trust to devices, and things everywhere. Working with the community helps Microsoft continuously innovate and enhance security at every layer. They are making this revolutionary security design a reality with the biggest names in the silicon industry as they continuously work to enhance security for all.

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