Securing Azure from Silicon to Systems

Key points

• Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative (SFI) is a company-wide commitment to security, prioritizing secure design, secure by default, and secure operation.
• Azure’s hardware security architecture includes Azure Boost, Azure Integrated HSM, and confidential computing, providing a comprehensive approach to workload security.
• Collaborative efforts such as Caliptra, OCP SAFE, and SCITT aim to enhance transparency and security assurance in the hardware supply chain.

Microsoft has been working tirelessly to ensure the security of its cloud infrastructure, particularly Azure. The company’s Secure Future Initiative (SFI) is a guiding framework for building secure and trustworthy cloud infrastructure. At the core of Azure’s approach is the idea of secure design, starting from the silicon level and extending through every layer of the cloud. Azure Boost is a key component of this approach, serving as the system’s security controller and managing secure access to Azure.

Another important aspect of Azure’s hardware security architecture is the Azure Integrated HSM, a custom security chip providing FIPS 140-3 Level 3 key protection within servers. This chip ensures that keys are protected in-use and eliminates the need for network roundtrips for key operations. Confidential computing is also a crucial part of Azure’s security strategy, using hardware-based Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) to protect workloads from other system software.

Microsoft has also been collaborating with other companies to enhance transparency and security assurance in the hardware supply chain. Caliptra, a fully open-source silicon root of trust, is a result of this collaboration. Caliptra anchors the chain of trust directly in silicon, establishing foundational security properties that support the integrity of higher-level features. OCP SAFE is another initiative that provides a framework for systematic security reviews, ensuring that hardware infrastructure is secure and trustworthy.

In addition to these efforts, Microsoft has also developed Code Transparency Services (CTS), an immutable ledger technology that enhances trust in Azure’s hardware and firmware. CTS ensures that every component is verifiably secure and addresses key challenges in firmware provenance, integrity, and auditability. With these innovations and collaborative efforts, Microsoft is not only securing today’s workloads but also laying the foundation for a more secure and transparent future.

The Secure Future Initiative is a testament to Microsoft’s commitment to security, and the company’s efforts to embed security into every layer of its cloud infrastructure. By taking a defense-in-depth approach to cloud security, Azure is providing its customers with a secure and trustworthy platform for their workloads. As the cloud landscape continues to evolve, Microsoft’s focus on security will remain a top priority, ensuring that its customers can rely on Azure to protect their data and applications. With Azure Boost, Azure Integrated HSM, and confidential computing, Microsoft is setting a new standard for cloud security, and its collaborative efforts with other companies are enhancing transparency and security assurance in the hardware supply chain.

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