Posted by admin | February 2nd, 2010
Trusted Computing Base (TCB) is a term for total system security which includes hardware, software, and firmware isolating various aspects of the system based on different levels of security using the reference monitor.
A Trusted Computing Base (TCB) is a model used for securing information while allowing functional access for intended users of a system. This is important for companies and there are many levels of security depending on the demand for security balanced with the need for access of information etc.
A TCB secured WAN is a layered security consisting of hardware, software, and firmware. Generally, the protected hardware includes the central processing unit (CPU), RAM, and storage devices such as disk drives, removable storage drives (flash USB drives and memory sticks), and various peripheral devices. The primary protected software and firmware applications are the Kernel (operating system), shell/windowing system (BIOS), any configuration files that control system operations, and peripheral device firmware.
From a visual perspective of how the TCB functions a rings of trust diagram is used. The diagram consists of several rings depicting levels of security from high to low. The outer rings are low-level security while the inner rings require a high-level of security clearance. The operation system is responsible for the flow of communications between layers utilizing the reference monitor to mediate access.
TCB is imaged as rings circling the system with security growing more intense as the rings near the center. TCB is designed to give the least security where the need is less and the most where the need is highest, while allowing users to access needed information and work within the system. This ring of trust loses trust as the ring narrows.
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