Microsoft Open-Sources Hardware Security Chip Design Through Project Tessera With Marvell and Oracle

At a glance

Microsoft said it will turn the Integrated HSM (hardware security module, which safely stores keys) technology used in Azure into an open-source project called Project Tessera, which anyone can view. The work is being done with Marvell, Oracle, and the Open Compute Project (OCP).

Key points

1. 1

   All design documents, protocols, drivers, and firmware will be made public so that multiple companies can use and improve them together.

2. 2

   The long-term goal is to also switch the chips themselves to open-source designs.

3. 3

   The project continues the work of Caliptra, an open-source security chip that builds a trusted foundation for chips and was already released using the same approach.

4. 4

   Microsoft explains that AI-powered attacks are getting faster and quantum computers could threaten existing encryption, making key protection more important than ever.

Why it matters

If keys and authentication information are stolen, attackers can pose as trusted systems. That is why it matters that several companies can jointly verify this security foundation.