« September 2017 | Main | December 2017 »
Integra Systems, Inc. authored a white paper in the past regarding the use of the WLAN in healthcare for Extreme. Since that authorship time; Extreme has been on a focused drive of strategic acquisitions in the networking, data center, voice, and additive in the wireless space. They are growing market share in multiple verticals.
Download The-reality-of-the-life-critical-wireless-healthcare-network
Everybody is concerned about security today. Bluetooth with the advent of mesh networking and 5.0 has been designed with security as the foremost priority. Currently Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), GATT devices can provide a range of security implementations that are specified in the Bluetooth core specifications. Mesh Bluetooth security is focused on the security of more than individual devices or peer connections, it is concerned with the security of the entire ecosystem.
The basic security framework includes the following:
- Mesh messages are encrypted and authenticated
- Subnets of the mesh network can be provided with each cryptographically distinct and secure from each other.
- Security keys can be changed via a key refresh procedure.
- Obfuscation of messages makes it difficult to track messages and provides privacy node protection
- Replay attack protection is provided.
- Nodes can be eliminated from the network of which eliminates trashcan attacks
- Secure Device provisioning is provided.
Two cryptographic security functions are used in the Bluetooth mesh stack
AES CMAC and AES-CCM
Cipher based Message Authentication Code (CMAC) is an algorithm which can generate a fixed length, 128 bit message authentication value for any variable length input.
AES-CCM is a generic authenticated encryption algorithm, which is intended for use with cryptographic clock ciphers. In the Bluetooth mesh specification, AES-CCM is used as the fundamental encryption and authentication methodology.
Bluetooth 5.0 was introduced in 2017 and now this fall the first smartphones of two leading companies have now incorporated 5.0.
Integra Systems, Inc. was around when the extension of the 802.11 standard, 802.11b was introduced in 1999 at a blazing speed of 2Mbps. Actually proprietary 802.11 FHSS and 802.11 DSSS were around prior, but at low speed. Speed then was around 1Mbps. So 802.11b was around twice of proprietary 802.11FH (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum) or DS.(Direct Sequence Spread Spretrum) A year later the Wi-Fi Alliance was formed which created interoperability. Wi-Fi as we know it today, was off and running.
Bluetooth 5 now offers 2 times the speed of 4.01/4.1/4.2 at up to 2Mbps, four times the range with 500/125 kbps, and eight times the broadcast capacity with advertising extensions.
Expect all types of new applications to open up with Bluetooth mesh being also introduced. This includes but not limited to areas of industrial automation, lighting, and security.
