Security News > 2020 > November > Microsoft brings its on-die Pluton security processor to Intel, AMD CPUs

Microsoft is integrating its Pluton security processor directly into Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm CPUs to better secure Windows PCs. Windows 10 gains enhanced security by utilizing specialized chips called Trusted Platform Modules to provide hardware-based security functions.

Microsoft is now partnering with Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm to introduce the Pluton security processor as an on-die chip in their CPUs.

As an integrated processor, it will be able to perform secure cryptographic functions without the risk of data leaking as it is communicating with the CPU. Introduced in the XBOX One and Azure Sphere, the Pluton security processor will emulate a TPM so that it can perform secure cryptographic functions and protect the boot process, encryption keys, and credentials directly on the CPU. This prevents malware and other malicious attacks from gaining access to the data.

"One of the other major security problems solved by Pluton is keeping the system firmware up to date across the entire PC ecosystem. Today customers receive updates to their security firmware from a variety of different sources than can be difficult to manage resulting in wide-spread patching issues. Pluton provides a flexible, updateable platform for running firmware that implements end-to-end security functionality that is authored, maintained, and updated by Microsoft. Pluton for Windows computers will be integrated with the Windows Update process in the same way that the Azure Sphere Security Service connects to IoT devices," Microsoft explains in their announcement.

Microsoft, Intel, and AMD have not indicated when new processors with the integrated Pluton security processor will be available.

News URL

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-brings-its-on-die-pluton-security-processor-to-intel-amd-cpus/