RATLS ensures security
In the iNGENIOUS project, the Barkhausen Institut has developed a communication protocol called RATLS. This technology integrates remote attestation (RA) into the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol. As a result, RATLS not only protects communication between two networked devices, but also checks which software is running on those devices.
In the project, the benefits of RATLS were demonstrated using a sensor built by iNGENIOUS project partner NeuroControls. This sensor constantly monitors the condition of train axles by looking for suspicious vibration patterns. If a possible defect is detected, the sensor must send a damage report to the railway operator, who must then repair the affected wagon. RATLS highly secures the transmission of this damage report by ensuring that the communication between the sensor device and the cloud server is protected and that the expected software is running on both devices.