Gone are the days when a strong firewall was all you needed to ensure your industrial systems and servers remained safe. Security programs have grown more robust over the years, forcing hackers to use more sophisticated approaches.

But this also means that security measures must evolve further as well, going further than simply firewalls and virus definitions. 

Is Advanced Security Even Needed for Embedded PCs? 

A common question raised whenever discussing advanced security measures is whether it is even needed. After all, most home PCs survive just fine on the basic protections, so why should embedded computers need to invest more?

The answer is yes, you do need stronger security technologies. The reason is simple – commercial systems are more at risk from targeted attacks. 

Hackers aren’t going to use firmware-level hacks to simply break into a home PC, but any embedded system used as a server or fulfilling a critical role in an industrial setup is a vulnerable target. 

And damaging ones, since getting your internal data compromised or your workflow impeded can cost you significantly.

Antivirus Cannot Stop Everything

The security suite offered by Windows by default has grown powerful enough to rebuff most viruses and malware quite handily. However, there are new threats that cannot be dealt with high-level software solutions. 

Some attacks inject code on the firmware level, striking at the very foundation on which the operating system depends. Such assaults are much harder to detect and deal with since any firewall works on the application layer and lacks access to low-level threats.

TPM: A Root of Trust 

The easiest solution to firmware hacking is to have a security program residing on a separate module to verify even the low-level code before it can run. And that’s exactly what TPM is.

Trusted Platform Module or TPM is the industry’s answer to firmware hacks. Basically, it is a separate chip fabricated on the motherboard itself, using cryptography to secure itself and verify the integrity of the system at every boot. 

The TPM enables the BIOS to verify the hardware itself, and detect any changes, blocking access to the data in case it finds the computer compromised. And thanks to powerful encryption techniques, this type of protection cannot be easily bypassed by any malware either.

The AI Factor 

We have talked about safeguarding against firmware attacks, but what about endpoint security? The largest threat to an enterprise network is often through unsecured access through an endpoint, not hardware hacks on the server itself. How can you protect against that? 

This is not really a hardware problem and is as such left to software providers to solve. But the development of AI has introduced a new tool into the equation. 

The AI models of today are based on statistical analysis, as such they are ideal for sifting through reams of data and finding patterns. This ability of AI is already being used in medical diagnosis and predicting mechanical faults – it can be utilized to detect compromised endpoints and shut them down. 

The leading cybersecurity platform, SentinelOne, has already partnered with Lenovo to release embedded computers putting AI security into practice. Expect such measures to become the norm in the future, accurately detecting intrusions into corporate networks and cutting off access before much damage can be done.

Do You Have to Consider Security Features When Buying an Embedded PC? 

Depending on what application you are buying your embedded computers for, the security consideration starts at the hardware level itself. A PC with a TPM module is a must, as it safeguards the system against any firmware-level attacks, ensuring that the hardware can verify its own integrity.

Of course, older systems already in service will often lack these new features, making them more vulnerable. But as you eventually upgrade your setups, it is recommended to patch this vulnerability with more recent boards.

AI-assisted security is also rising to the fore, taking the form of both software and hardware solutions. These are more suited to fending off more complex attacks and detecting compromised devices, making them the future of cybersecurity in the coming years.