Renesas Electronics introduces security solutions for the RZ/G Linux platform

     Renesas Electronics Corporation announced that it will launch a security solution based on the RZ/G Linux platform and supporting the IEC62443-4-2 international security standard certification by the end of December 2019 to protect industrial control systems from cyber attacks and effectively reduce the certification time required by users.

     In today's interconnected world, very strong security measures are increasingly important. The industrial control systems of infrastructure such as manufacturing plants and power plants can cause serious damage to people's lives and economies if they are subjected to cyber attacks. Therefore, the development of the international standard IEC62443 covering all levels of industrial control systems (operators, system integrators, equipment suppliers) and all players (such as manufacturing plants, chemical plants, power plants, smart grids, transportation and other industrial, public infrastructure business related enterprises and groups) security is continuing to advance. Based on this standard, end devices such as sensors and PLC (programmable logic controller) are required to be IEC62443-4 certified. Vendors face a number of challenges during the development process, including interpreting complex standards, preparing certification related software and documentation required for certification, and verifying know-how.

     To help developers overcome these challenges, Renesas Electronics is developing industrial security solutions that support IEC 62443-4. Through the deliverables of the Civil Infrastructure Platform (CIP) activity, Renesas Electronics RZ/G Linux Platform security solutions will enable users to reduce the time required to obtain IEC 62443-4-2 certification by up to six months.

     Mr. Shigeki Kato, General Manager, Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions, Renesas Electronics Industrial Solutions Business Unit, said, "At the end of February 2019, the IEC 62443-4-2 international standard version came into effect. "With the increasing importance of IEC 62443, Renesas will begin to provide solutions to help customers obtain certification as quickly as possible and fully support the implementation of their security measures."

     Urs Gleim, Chairman of the CIP Board and Head of Intelligent Embedded Systems at Siemens, said: "CIP aims to enable a secure social infrastructure by facilitating the spread of OSS. "With a focus on the highly respected IEC62443-4 standard, semiconductor manufacturer Renesas has participated in and facilitated the IEC 62443-4-2 certification, which is important for equipment suppliers, driving the adoption of OSS in industrial equipment and helping to ensure plant and infrastructure security."

     IEC62443-4 contains IEC62443-4-1 to ensure that the development process complies with the standard and IEC62443-4-2 to ensure that the technical requirements of the equipment itself comply with the standard. Renesas has developed security guidelines based on the IEC62443-4-2 standard through its participation in the newly established security work of the Linux Foundation CIP (Civil Infrastructure Platforma "TM). Security features and application implementations for OSS (open source software) development, adoption of OSS, contribute to further building the test procedures and test environment required for IEC62443-4-2 certification.

     At the same time, Renesas Electronics launched the RZ/G Linux platform for embedded devices in the industrial sector, providing a proven one-stop Linux package in addition to the RZ/G MPU series and ensuring ultra-long-term support. Renesas will prepare the necessary software and documentation for the security solution, making its RZ/G Linux platform the best development environment for IEC62443-4-2 certification; The aim is to reduce the time required to obtain IEC62443-4-2 certification by up to six months by applying a security solution that combines the CIP project with Renesas Electronics RZ/G Linux platform. Going forward, Renesas Electronics will continue to focus on the development of common technologies such as cybersecurity and functional safety technologies to enhance endpoint intelligence in the OT field and provide IEC62443-4 compliant solutions.