At Microsoft, safe design begins on the basis of our computing stack—the silicon degree—and extends by way of each layer of the cloud.
At Microsoft, safe design begins on the basis of our computing stack—the silicon degree—and extends by way of each layer of the cloud. Since launching the Safe Future Initiative (SFI)—a company-wide dedication to safety, we proceed to prioritize delivering merchandise and options which are safe by design, safe by default, and safe in operation.
SFI sits on the core of Azure’s method to designing {hardware} programs, reshaping the structure, deployment, and operations of our bodily cloud and AI infrastructure. Azure is redefining workload safety from the datacenter to the sting. Our complete method consists of Azure Enhance, which isolates management and information planes for digital machines; the Azure Built-in HSM, a customized safety chip offering FIPS 140-3 Degree 3 key safety inside our servers; and confidential computing, which protects information in-use by way of hardware-based trusted execution environments (TEEs).
Microsoft has additionally made ongoing efforts to advance systematic safety audits and contribute to the open-source neighborhood by way of Caliptra—a silicon root-of-trust designed to anchor safety in {hardware}. Combining these initiatives with applied sciences comparable to confidential computing and code transparency companies, our goal is to make sure that each element within the provide chain will be securely verified.
Function constructed silicon for defense-in-depth
Azure Enhance serves because the system’s safety controller, managing safe entry to Azure. Solely programs with a verified and authorised safety configuration are granted entry.
To reinforce safety and efficiency, Azure Enhance offloads management airplane companies from the host CPU to a devoted Azure Enhance system controller. This setup creates a {hardware} separation between Azure’s management airplane—operating on the Azure Enhance controller—and buyer workloads—operating on the CPU—making certain robust isolation and safety.
Azure Built-in HSM is a server native {Hardware} Safety Module (HSM) for high-assurance workloads. It’s designed to fulfill the stringent necessities of the Federal Data Processing Requirements (FIPS) 140-3 Degree 3 safety necessities, requiring robust isolation, tamper-resistant {hardware}, identity-based authentication, and automated zeroization. Azure Built-in HSM protects keys in-use, by making certain keys all the time stay inside the bounds of the HSM.
Not like centralized distant HSM companies, Azure Built-in HSM eliminates community roundtrips for key operations and avoids the necessity to launch keys into the workload surroundings. As an alternative of counting on distant entry, the Azure Built-in HSM is securely certain to the native workload and supplies oracle-style key utilization to licensed companies inside the native surroundings.
Azure Datacenter Safe Management Module (DC-SCM)—DC-SCM is a safety and server management module that incorporates Hydra—a security-focused Board Administration Controller (BMC) design, with an built-in root-of-trust and hardware-based safety safety on all administration interfaces. This root of belief restricts unauthorized entry to BMC firmware and ensures the firmware is authenticated and cryptographically measured.
Confidential Computing provides a spectrum of ensures
Confidential computing makes use of hardware-based Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) to guard workloads—comparable to digital machines—from different system software program, together with the hypervisor.
Microsoft, a founding member of the Confidential Computing Consortium, works intently with CPU and GPU producers to design and combine confidential computing applied sciences straight into their {hardware}. Earlier this yr on the Confidential Computing Summit we outlined a spectrum of ensures customers can allow with confidential computing after they port their functions, together with:
- On by default, is the carry and shift present functions with minimal change.
- Construct in confidential computing by designing companies and functions that make deeper use of hardware-based protections.
- Leverage clear confidential computing to achieve deeper insights into how confidential companies work together and function securely.
Azure has probably the most complete portfolio of confidential computing options, together with confidential digital machines, containers, generative AI, and companies like Azure Confidential Ledger, Azure Attestation, and Managed HSM—every designed to guard code and information all through its lifecycle utilizing hardware-backed safety.
{Hardware} Safety Transparency
Caliptra is a {hardware} root of belief that performs a vital position in securing gadgets. It anchors the chain of belief straight in silicon, establishing foundational safety properties that help the integrity of higher-level options. This basis supplies workloads the flexibility to confirm the code and configuration of the underlying platform, enabling workloads set up belief within the {hardware} platform.
Caliptra is a totally open-source silicon root of belief developed by way of a collaboration between Microsoft, AMD, Google, and NVIDIA. In April, we launched Caliptra 2.0, which included Adams Bridge—an open-source accelerator designed for post-quantum resilient cryptography. This integration made Caliptra the primary open-source root of belief to characteristic hardened post-quantum cryptography, driving broader adoption throughout the {hardware} ecosystem.
Systematic Safety Critiques play a vital position in defending {hardware} infrastructure, which depends on each low-level {hardware} options and the firmware that runs on prime of them. Making certain firmware safety includes rigorous code scanning, steady safety opinions, and hardware-based attestation.
Traditionally, Microsoft performed these opinions internally. To reinforce transparency and lengthen safety assurance past Microsoft, we partnered with Google and the Open Compute Challenge in 2023 to ascertain OCP SAFE—a framework for systematic safety opinions.
Below OCP SAFE, authorised Safety Evaluate Suppliers (SRPs) carry out impartial evaluations and challenge verifiable endorsements of a producer’s safety compliance. These endorsements function trusted proof, supporting safe system attestations and reinforcing confidence within the {hardware} provide chains.
Enhancing safety with Code Transparency Providers
Code Transparency Providers (CTS) is an immutable ledger expertise constructed to fulfill the requirements of Provide Chain Integrity, Transparency, and Belief (SCITT). It operates solely inside confidential computing environments, enhancing belief in Azure’s {hardware} and firmware by making certain that each element is verifiably safe .
CTS addresses key challenges in firmware provenance, integrity, and auditability throughout each first-party and third-party provide chains. When paired with a silicon root of belief like Caliptra, and supported by audits comparable to OCP-SAFE, CTS ensures that {hardware} and firmware are licensed, non-repudiable, and immutably auditable.
Right now, CTS is a central element in Azure’s confidential cloud companies. Along with Azure’s personal utilization, CTS shall be obtainable as a managed service—permitting Azure clients to create and function their very own transparency service cases.
Staying safe with Microsoft
Microsoft’s Safe Future Initiative (SFI) supplies a guiding framework for constructing safe and reliable cloud infrastructure. By embedding safety into each layer—from silicon to programs to companies—Azure takes a defense-in-depth method to cloud safety. By means of improvements like Azure Enhance, Azure Built-in HSM, and confidential computing, and thru collaborative efforts comparable to Caliptra, OCP SAFE, and SCITT, Microsoft will not be solely securing right this moment’s workloads but additionally laying the inspiration for a safer and clear future.
