Microsoft Azure Hardware Security to Help Thwart the 3rd Largest GDP
15 days ago
- #Cybercrime
- #Hardware Security Modules
- #Azure Security
- Microsoft discussed Azure Hardware Security at Hot Chips 2025, emphasizing cloud security.
- Cybercrime's economic impact is significant, ranking between Germany and China in GDP at over $9T in 2024.
- Microsoft's infrastructure includes 70+ Azure regions, 400+ data centers, and 34,000 security engineers.
- The Secure Future Initiative (SFI) is central to Microsoft's security strategy.
- Microsoft is integrating Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) into each server, moving from a centralized model.
- Azure Integrated HSM is a custom ASIC designed for local security, reducing reliance on centralized TLS handshakes.
- Microsoft's Caliptra 2.0 is an open-source silicon root of trust, enhancing security in multi-tenant environments.
- The presentation highlighted the trade-offs in chip design for local HSMs, balancing power and area constraints.
- Confidential computing was discussed as a method to protect data in multi-tenant cloud environments.
- Questions remain about the practicality and scalability of node-integrated HSMs in dynamic cloud environments.