Microsoft is building a dedicated Linux kernel for its new Internet of things service

Microsoft today announced at a press conference at the RSA Security Conference in San Francisco the launch of a new, secure Internet product that focuses on microcontrollers, a type of device that uses microcontrollers that do not need high power MCUs For basic control procedures and connection features.
This is the first time in its 43-year history that Microsoft has announced a Linux-based operating system, the all-new Azure Sphere for Internet Security, which includes three levels: custom new control chips, Azure Sphere security for connected objects , And Azure Sphere OS, which runs on a dedicated Linux kernel.

Brad Smith, Microsoft's chief legal officer and chief legal officer, said the company addresses Internet security at three different levels: chips, operating system and cloud. Smith explained how each component of Azure Sphere, built according to the company's vision for high-security devices, will license Azure chips The new Sphere is free, hoping to launch the Azure Sphere Ecosystem.

These devices feature built-in connectivity, as it is difficult to protect a device that can not be updated or remotely accessed. Through this connection, they can also contact Azure Sphere Security in the cloud.

The Azure Sphere OS, which runs these devices, is based on a dedicated Linux kernel that Microsoft has developed under the OSS license so that chip manufacturers can accelerate the new innovation process, which is an update to the real-time operating systems currently used on MCUs.

In addition, MediaTek is producing the first set of these new, low-power, MCU-based, ARM-A7-based modules that will run at a frequency of 500 MHz and include Wi-Fi connectivity, Other input and output options.

Smith also emphasized that Microsoft is working on the Azure Sphere Security Service compatibility not only with Azure but with other cloud infrastructure providers such as AWS, Google Cloud, Oracle, IBM and Alibaba Cloud, so these devices can be used with other services regardless of Provider, to make sure that billions of Internet devices things are safe, adding that Microsoft realized that Linux was more convenient than Windows for Internet devices things.