Verimatrix, Cryptography highlight hardware security cores
September 30, 2013
Verimatrix, the specialist in securing and enhancing revenue for multi-network, multi-screen digital TV services, has published a new white paper titled “Integrated Software and Hardware Security: The Next Step in Set-top Box Content and Revenue Protection.” Written in conjunction with Cryptography Research, this paper focuses on the latest advancements of software security clients that are integrated with hardware security cores in STB chipsets.
As the volume of STBs shipments continues to increase, hacking STBs remains a primary activity for pirates. At the same time, the threat model for service operators has changed with the vulnerabilities of Internet-connected devices, such as hybrid STBs. Combining mainstream conditional access (CA) and digital rights management (DRM) systems in an end-to-end deployment offers operators a robust and efficient tool to thwart piracy while supporting content monetization and revenue security. The paper addresses the benefits of taking such an approach, and offers operators guidance on how to incorporate such a solution into their content protection strategies.
“While the last 25 years have provided advances in content protection technology, many consider the necessary next step to be hardware and software integrated security cores, particularly for today’s advanced hybrid STBs,” said Petr Peterka, CTO, Verimatrix. “We collaborated with CRI on this white paper to offer operators insight into how such an approach can result in feature-rich STBs, while also supporting hybrid delivery, OTT delivery, cloud delivery and multi-screen/TV Everywhere and serving as the foundation of STB content and revenue protection.”
“The hardware security core approach brings significant security and architectural advantages; however, it needs to be combined with software capabilities to provide a robust, end-to-end system,” said Ben Jun, CTO, Cryptography Research. “Integrating the most advanced security hardware available with today’s SoC designs offers operators and broadcasters a flexible, yet robust solution for future-proofing revenue security.”