INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
At this year's IoT Solutions Word Congress, Microsoft announced that its Azure Sphere microcontroller (MCU) and cloud security service will
be generally available in February 2020.Over the last few years, the software giant has been working to help secure low-cost IoT devices
company first announced in April of 2018.The MediaTek MT3620 is the first Azure Sphere chip and it includes an onboard security subsystem
According to the company, its customers across a variety of industries have already adopted the MT3620 and are using the chip to produce
consumer appliances as well as retail and manufacturing equipment
Additionally these Azure Sphere chips are also being used to power a series of guardian modules which help securely connect and protect
mission-critical equipment.Guardian modules themselves are designed to help customers quickly bring their existing investments online
without taking on risk or jeopardizing their equipment
The modules plug into existing physical interfaces on equipment and they can be deployed easily without the need to redesign devices
Avnet and AI-Link have created the first guardian modules and devices from both companies are now available, though Microsoft says that
we'll hear more about guardian modules from other manufacturers soon.Although MediaTek produced the first Azure Sphere chip, Microsoft has
partnered with other chipmakers to produce their own versions of its secure chip.Back in June, the company announced that it would
collaborate with NXP to deliver a new Azure Sphere certified chip
This new chip will be an extension of the chipmaker's popular I.MX 8 high-performance applications processor series and will be optimized
for performance and power
When complete, NXP's Azure Sphere chip will bring improved compute capabilities to support advanced workloads such as AI, graphics and
richer UI experiences.Earlier this month, Microsoft also announced its collaboration with Qualcomm to deliver the first cellular-enabled
Qualcomm's chip will feature ultra-low-power capabilities that will give customers the freedom to securely connect anytime, anywhere.In a
press release announcing the general availability of Azure Sphere, distinguished engineer and managing director of Azure Sphere, Galen Hunt
the planet to connect and create secure and trustworthy IoT devices
While Azure Sphere leverages deep and extensive Microsoft heritage that spans hardware, software, cloud, and security, IoT is our
