Wibu-Systems
CmReady-certified storage cards for industry applications
As a manufacturer of security solutions for industry, Wibu-Systems will be presenting its latest security applications at embedded world. Visitors may be particularly interested in the new »CmReady« application.
Wibu-Systems' »CmReady« solution demonstrates that mobility, security, and sustainable resource management can be effectively combined for industrial use. CmReady-certified storage cards, already in use by software or device manufacturers, can be utilized to store and bind »CmActLicenses« from Wibu-Systems, handling them like a dongle. Licenses for the use of protected software are stored on the CmReady card – now, the same medium used for service and maintenance purposes can also allow manufacturers to safeguard their software against reverse engineering and product piracy effectively. Moreover, through licensing, software functions can be monetized by offering users exactly the features they need. Visitors at embedded world 2024 can learn more at Swissbit, the first provider of CmReady-certified storage cards in Hall 1, booth 534, or at the Wibu-Systems booth 168 in Hall 4, shared with OSADL.
Storage cards with CmReady
Software and device manufacturers protect their software with »CodeMeter«. The entitlements associated with the licenses are stored in so-called CodeMeter containers, which can be hardware- (CmDongles), software- (CmActLicenses) bound to a device's unique fingerprint or cloud-based (CmCloudContainers). By implementing any licensing scheme they choose, including single-user and network licenses, as well as feature-, consumption-, time-, or user-based licenses, manufacturers can define which product functions their users can access and even the payment models. Licenses can be updated at any time while already in the field.
As the first Wibu-Systems partner, Swissbit has made its industry-grade Data Protection (DP) SD and microSD cards CmReady-capable. To be CmReady-compliant, a storage card must have a unique serial number, a protected storage area, and tamper-proof monotonic counters. It can then store up to 4 software-based »CmActLicenses«, which are then bound to the card instead of the target device. CmReady certified storage cards save the cost of an additional dongle, offer binding with high security, and the mobility of a dongle. Compared to CodeMeter dongles in the form factor of a storage card, which are usually available in only a few storage sizes, e.g., the CmCard/SD, CmReady certified storage cards offer a wide range of storage capacities and properties.
Significant flexibility
The ability to swap a storage card like a dongle, without needing a LAN connection to a license server, provides significant flexibility and increases the availability of on-site systems. This practice of license mobility with industrial storage cards enables companies to efficiently maintain and manage their systems by quickly and securely transferring licenses between devices without relying on external network connections.
In addition to the mobility of licenses, companies that deploy CmReady benefit from all CodeMeter features, such as simple license activation and renewal processes. CmReady is now available with CodeMeter Runtime from version 8.0 and CodeMeter Embedded from version 3.0. The plug-and-play functionality allows easy implementation as with all other CodeMeter containers. Another advantage is that existing storage cards can be upgraded with the new CodeMeter function, promoting sustainable resource use, environmental protection, and cost savings.
