Open Kernel Labs New Secure HyperCell™
Technology Advances Development of Enterprise-Safe Mobile Devices
Open Kernel Labs Secure HyperCell Technology in OKL4 2.0 Open
Source Microkernel Helps Minimize Threats to Mobile Devices from Buggy
Drivers and Malicious Applications
CHICAGO (Business Wire EON) April 14, 2008 --
Open Kernel Labs (OK Labs), a global provider of systems software and
virtualization technology for embedded systems, today announced the new
version of its open source microkernel software, OKL4
2.0 tackles the security and reliability challenges embedded
developers face in creating enterprise-safe connected devices for end
users, carriers and enterprises. The OK Labs microkernel-based OKL4 2.0
virtualization and system-software platform is the first to offer Secure
HyperCell™ technology, which provides a
secure environment for operating systems, applications and drivers on
mobile devices. OKL4 enables developers to address the threat of
malware, hackers and poorly behaved code that increasingly jeopardize
end users, carriers and enterprises of all sizes.
According to the Consumer Electronics Association’s
(CEA) Wireless Phone Data and Entertainment Services study, 40 percent
of American adults plan to purchase a new wireless handset within the
year. In addition, CEA estimates that smartphone factory-to-dealer sales
will exceed $8 billion in 2008, making it one of the fastest-growing
markets for embedded devices. With this growth come new security and
reliability issues for end users, carriers and enterprises. If these
challenges are not taken into consideration in the overall design and
architecture, then safe and secure operation of the entire network will
be jeopardized by faults and attacks.
“OKL4’s
capability-based security can prevent data leakage by untrusted code,”
said Steve Subar, president and CEO, OK Labs. “With
increasing amounts of personal information on handsets, preventing
identity theft through mobile viruses is paramount.”
Using OKL4 as a trusted platform, developers of smart, connected devices
can make their products enterprise-safe by encapsulating critical
components into individual Secure HyperCells. A Secure HyperCell
protects its contents from the rest of the system and from unwanted
communication with other cells, making it possible to add functionality
incrementally, without undermining the security of the existing system.
This unprecedented level of security is achieved by implementing
multiple secure cells, operating in user mode, under the control of a
hypervisor that operates in privileged mode, which allows the
development and configuration of a system running in completely
virtualized yet protected spaces without requiring access to privileged
mode at any point.
With OKL4, developers can add new functionality while keeping the entire
system enterprise-safe. This helps end users meet the requirements
needed to connect easily and to use their device in any setting
including personal and work environments.
“Mobile devices are demanding higher levels
of performance and functionality as users increasingly rely on wireless
connectivity and networking capabilities on their mobile phones,”
said Stephen Balacco, Director, Embedded Software Practice, Venture
Development Corporation. “This brings with it
new needs for security and reliability in these devices to address
consumer, carrier and corporate demands.”
With carriers such as Verizon and AT&T announcing that they are opening
their networks to out-of-network handsets, developers need to design
smart, connected devices that are secure and reliable enough to protect
consumers, carriers and enterprises. OKL4 provides a trustworthy
environment where applications and operating systems are secure and
protected, enabling developers to alleviate the risk of out-of-network
devices for end users, carriers and enterprises.
By using the Secure HyperCell technology found in OKL4, developers of
mobile devices can integrate multiple functions, OSes or applications
into a single processor platform, while protecting core device
functionality from compromise. OKL4 features capability-based security,
which enables the fine-grained control of access rights that underpins
Secure HyperCell technology. Secure HyperCell technology encapsulates
and isolates individual applications, device drivers, critical services
or complete OSes, preventing any interaction unless explicitly
authorized. This can be used to contain the damage from faults or
security compromises and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the
system.
OKL4 2.0, available
under an open source or a commercial license, is now shipping and is
available for download, general use, evaluation and prototyping. In
addition, OK Labs offers professional services including customization,
processor architecture porting and training for OKL4 supporting ARM, x86
and MIPS processors. For more information or to download software, visit http://www.ok-labs.com/.
For those interested in learning more about the technology,
understanding use cases and to get answers to specific questions,
developers can join the OK Labs technical Community mailing list (http://www.ok-labs.com/community/mailing-list-signup/).
Open Kernel Labs
The Open Kernel Labs leading technology in embedded systems software and
virtualization enables the development of safe, trustworthy and
affordable devices. Backed by the largest, independent team of
microkernel developers, OK Labs delivers OKL4, an advanced microkernel
solution, which offers the highest performance combined with strong
protection and security features. OKL4 provides developers with a
robust, open source platform for building secure, differentiated
embedded applications. For more information about OK Labs and its
products, visit www.ok-labs.com. OK
Labs is a spin out from NICTA, Australia’s
preeminent Center of Excellence for information and communications
technology, www.nicta.com.au.
Open Kernel Labs, OK Labs and Secure HyperCell are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Open Kernel Labs or its affiliates in the U.S.
and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective
owners.
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