The secure hardware element lineup of Wibu-Systems broadens once more with CmStick/B
The same robust and elegant design for high-end branding is now available for CmStick/B and CmStick/BMC.
Wibu-Systems, one of the three nominees with its Blurry Box cryptography in the software category for the Embedded Award 2018, is launching CmStick/B, its newest secure hardware element for the secure storage of cryptographic keys and software licenses at Embedded World. Visitors of the show can request their sample at booth 360 in hall 4 and start planning the upscale of their business.
It was just a few months ago when the company released CmStick/BMC, a gem in innovation and miniaturization that was coupling SiP (System in Package) technology for the integration of the USB connector inside the metal body of the dongle, with the SLM97 controller from Infineon for secure key storage in a smart card chip, USB 3.1 interface for fast data transfer, 16 GB 2-bit MLC flash memory for additional storage capacity of software and data, and the U9 flash controller and hyMap® firmware from Hyperstone for safe flash handling and reliable data management.
The resulting product stood out for two main reasons: its technology excellence encased in a sturdy and compact size unit, and the elegance of the housing that offered vendors the possibility for high end branding. Given the acclaim, Wibu-Systems then decided to extend the same design to a parallel product line: CmStick/B, the exact counterpart of CmStick/BMC without all the flash memory related components. The two brother devices have the exact same size, 12.1 mm x 22 mm x 4.5 mm, an optimal compromise between the tiny CmStick/C, the smallest in Wibu-Systems’ portfolio, and CmStick ME, the standard sized metal unit optionally equipped with SLC flash memory.
With the immediate availability of CmStick/B and /BMC, Wibu-Systems continues to extend its comprehensive array of hardware, software, and cloud secure elements that intelligent device manufacturers can trust and use in long-term industrial projects to reap the rewards of Industrie 4.0 and monetize their businesses in new ways with secure license management.
CodeMeter, the underlying Wibu-Systems’ technology for complete license lifecycle management for digital assets, that protects them against counterfeiting, reverse engineering, and tampering, has already been adopted by several preeminent players in the automation world:
- Since its first implementation in V3.5, 3S-Smart Software Solutions has been offering an integration of CODESYS with dongle-based licensing for their engineering tool plugin features, OEM project protection, an API for PLC applications and licensing tasks, and copy protection for PLC target code.
- B&R, an ABB company, chose a similar model and, with the same hardware dongle they do not just protect their own IP, but also make the same container available to their customers, thanks to its multi-vendor capabilities.
- Kontron has embedded CodeMeter in its APPROTECT technology and CodeMeter ASIC onto all their newest embedded computing module designs to provide a ready-made and inherently IP protected solution that leaves their customers the freedom to simply choose the licensing models that fit their business game best.
- In CodeMeter and its software based license containers, Phoenix Contact found the comprehensive, secure, and flexible licensing solution it needed for licensing not only PC software tools, but also device functionalities or PLC program libraries. Phoenix Contact has formally qualified Wibu-Systems’ technology for licensing PC Worx Engineer.
- Rockwell Automation uses a combination of dongles and flash memory secure cards for source protection for their Studio 5000 Logix Designer, execution protection for application code on the Allen Bradley ControlLogix 5580, CompactLogix 5380, and CompactLogix 5480 PLCs, and online license and entitlement management.
- Siemens has introduced a password provider API for their TIA portal. Wibu-Systems offers a cloud-based secure password management solution based on CodeMeter Password Provider, CodeMeter Password Manager, CodeMeter License Central, WebDepot, and CodeMeter dongles, which streamline the assignment and control of passwords and protect engineering data.
Oliver Winzenried, CEO and founder of WIbu-Systems, explains his strategy: “To support original equipment manufacturers in transitioning their value chains from hardware to software, we want to offer our protection, licensing, and security technology on multiple levels, facilitate its integration, and reduce the bottom line costs. To that end, our focus is to keep selecting the leading operating systems, the dominant architectures, and high-profile solution partners for CodeMeter to become a pervasive added strength in their business tactics”.