SITe
Securing Networked Devices in the Internet of Things
The SITe project (“Steeled IoT Device”) is developing technical building blocks to make connected devices in the Internet of Things more secure. Wireless connectivity is essential for many applications—from smart agriculture to industrial systems—but it also creates new security risks. Especially when certain hardware components, such as wireless modems, cannot be fully verified or trusted, protective measures become essential.
Many IoT devices connect to the Internet via mobile networks like 5G, much like smartphones. While this enables flexible communication, it also introduces several challenges:
- Devices must include a wireless modem, which may come from manufacturers that cannot be fully trusted.
- The device’s software is exposed to potential attacks from the Internet.
- Data sent from the device to external servers must be protected.
In SITe, the Barkhausen Institut works alongside ISS AG and DATEC pro GmbH to address these issues. While the partners focus on network software and encryption, the institute concentrates on hardware security. Using its in-house M³ platform—a combination of hardware and a microkernel-based operating system—the Barkhausen Institut ensures that system components are cleanly separated. This design limits what potentially untrusted parts, like the wireless modem, can access. Even if compromised, they cannot affect the rest of the system.
Together, the project partners aim to lay a strong foundation for trustworthy IoT devices. SITe shows how security and reliability can be built into digital technologies from the ground up—making them more resilient in everyday use.
Project duration: 1.9.2024 bis 31.8.2027
Contact: Dr. Ing. Michael Roitzsch
Partners: ISS AG, DATEC pro GmbH
