Collaboration extends secure IoT platform based on new ARMv8-M architecture

Renesas Electronics has announced their collaboration on the development of the next-generation Renesas Synergy IoT platform solution based on the new ARMv8-M architecture. The innovative platform solution will enable a wider number of developers to rapidly create secure, connected IoT devices by reducing the complexity of designing and deploying advanced security technologies in embedded systems. Three leading companies in the IoT space have collaborated on embedded platform development using Express Logic’s ThreadX RTOS with the IAR Embedded Workbench software development environment – all supporting the ARMv8-M architecture and leveraging ARM TrustZone security technology. These technologies will be a foundation for the next-generation Renesas Synergy Platform. The IoT platform development consists of a prototype MCU using two newly-announced ARMv8-M based CPU cores, the ARM Cortex-M23 and the Cortex-M33. Using IAR Embedded Workbench, the ThreadX RTOS was ported to the new cores, bringing to life the mechanism separating secure and non-secure zones. With this capability as a foundation, these partners will create innovative solutions for the pain points brought on by challenges to deliver the IoT. The ARMv8-M architecture in the new cores announced today provides a new key security technology for these partners to leverage in changing how embedded systems support inventive business models in the age of the smart society. “ThreadX was the first commercial RTOS to support TrustZone for ARMv8-M, which we announced February of this year. Today, we are very pleased to reveal that this support is now executing on an ARMv8-M MCU prototype from Renesas," said William E. Lamie, president of Express Logic. "With our TrustZone support and certified-safe and secure NetX Duo IPv4/IPv6 TCP/IP stack, Renesas customers now have access to the most safe and secure commercial IoT run-time solution in the market.” “As security breaches of connected devices is a real threat these days, we can see that our customers are looking for easy-to-use solutions with strong security features in both hardware and software,” said Stefan Skarin, CEO, IAR Systems. “The Synergy Platform and its associated tools running on the TrustZone-enabled ARMv8-M architecture is a typical example for such a solution, and will enable companies worldwide to deliver secured IoT solutions to market faster." “We’re pleased to preview some of the coming additions to the Synergy Platform with our valued partners, Express Logic and IAR Systems,” said Peter Carbone, vice president, Synergy IoT Platform Business Division, Renesas Electronics Corporation. “By combining a feature-rich RTOS with powerful embedded development tools and a full hardware and software platform for IoT development with the power and security of ARM’s latest cores, Renesas and its partners continue to address the design challenges facing today’s IoT developers: time-to-market, security and cost-effective performance.”