Tech behemoth Microsoft have launched ‘Azure Sphere’, an embedded operating system aimed at securing vulnerable IoT devices. With this launch, Microsoft will help enterprises secure data and networks against growing cyber attacks for IoT and edge devices.
Microsoft say that ‘Azure Sphere’ is a tiny microcontroller that can go into smart devices to run safely as an operating system. They also say that its security software is designed to run safely on the cloud in order to monitor devices for hacking threats.
According to Microsoft the advent of ‘Azure Sphere’ marks the first initiative to create a safe ecosystem around cloud and IoT together. They also believe that with this launch they will have a unique offering in the market.
Instead of manufacturing the chips itself, Microsoft say that they are working in tandem with chipmaker MediaTek to get their microcontrollers to the market. They also added that Microsoft are ensuring that the microcontrollers are being produced up to the desired standards in order to be pushed out in large volumes come summer.
Speaking about the key benefit of Azure Sphere, Galen Hunt, Partner and Managing Director at Microsoft, commented:
The chip functions as the brain of the device, hosting the compute, storage, memory, and an operating system right on the device.
Industry experts say that they are excited to witness such a highly facilitating tool. Delighted with this launch, Neil Naughton, Deputy Chairman at Glen Dimplex, an appliance manufacturing company, commented:
The work Microsoft is doing with Azure Sphere uniquely addresses the security challenges of the connected microcontrollers shipping in billions of devices every year. We look forward to integrating Azure Sphere into our product lines later this year.