connectBlue OWS451 EAP-TLS WLAN security feature

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M2M Connectivity has announced the Extensible Authentication Protocol-Transport Layer Security (EAP-TLS) as a wireless LAN (WLAN) security feature from connectBlue. The feature is particularly suitable for mission-critical applications where there is a need to increase security and/or to centrally authorise individual wireless units.

In small embedded systems, WLAN security features are usually various forms of encryption such as WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK. Typically, the assigned authentication key is the same for all distributed wireless units. However, with EAP-TLS, each wireless client is assigned a unique authentication certificate.

connectBlue WLAN UART Serial Port Module OWS451s are shipped with the feature, whereas users who have installed the modules can easily download upgrade firmware from the connectBlue support site. The feature has already been tested and validated in key mission-critical applications.

EAP-TLS is considered a secure standard and is thus often required by central IT management. For instance, it makes it possible to centrally manage individual units when one, for example, would like to centrally revoke a certain client’s certificate. Thanks to the client-side certificate, security is also sustained, as a compromised password is not enough to break into the product’s enabled systems as the potential intruder would also need the client-side private key. These advantages make the product suitable for demanding factory automation and medical installations.