Netiquette IQ Technical Term of The Day - Trusted Platform Module

From  whatis.techtarget.com

Trusted Platform Module

A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a specialized chip on an endpoint device that stores RSA encryption keys specific to the host system for hardware authentication. 
Each TPM chip contains an RSA key pair called the Endorsement Key (EK). The pair is maintained inside the chip and cannot be accessed by software. The Storage Root Key (SRK) is created when a user or administrator takes ownership of the system. This key pair is generated by the TPM based on the Endorsement Key and an owner-specified password.
A second key, called an Attestation Identity Key (AIK) protects the device against unauthorized firmware and software modification by hashing critical sections of firmware and software before they are executed. When the system attempts to connect to the network, the hashes are sent to a server that verifies that they match expected values. If any of the hashed components has been modified since last started, the match will fail, and the system can not gain entry to the network.
TPM chips can be used with any major operating system and work best in conjunction with other security technologies such as firewalls, antivirus software, smart cards and biometric verification. 

The term TPM is sometimes used in reference to the set of specifications applicable to TPM chips.

See also: hard-drive encryption, encryption key management

This was last updated in September 2014

Posted by: Margaret Rouse

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