A suite of encryption tools for use with Flowcode

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Ariko
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A suite of encryption tools for use with Flowcode

Post by Ariko »

I direct this request primarily to the Matrix team, to ask if Matrix would consider creating suite of encryption tools for use with Flowcode. The purpose is to provide secure communications for IOT and other types of interconnected projects.

Secure communication has already become a fundamental design requirement for any new IOT product development in the commercial world and there is a similar need developing within the hobby and maker fields. The use of external connections via WiFi or Ethernet inevitably exposes the connection and the associated network(s) to the risk of cyber-attack and all its potential consequences.

Apart from its obvious educational value, Flowcode is positioned as a tool to assist with the rapid development of embedded applications and SCADA systems and to have a range of secure communication components with in-built encryption based on peered reviewed, open source protocols continues to fit with this ethos.

In fact, I would argue that without it, the future potential of Flowcode could be artificially capped. By this I mean that the compelling need to incorporate secure communications is likely to drive engineering to use other programming languages that support more readily, the porting of open source encryption libraries.

To address this, I was thinking that Matrix could offer;

a) A suite of communication components with inbuilt encryption based on open source peer reviewed protocols for use in a future version of Flowcode.
b) An informative application guide – Effective secure communications requires the implementation of a range of procedural mitigation measures in addition to the hardware/firmware.
c) A related training module – There is definitely a need to educate our young future engineers in the art of implementing secure communications, as it is now and will continue to be a key requirement for all new ‘interconnected’ product development.

Matrix will likely need to draft in specialist resources to deliver these items and such the Matrix products will need to be additional ‘purchased’ options that enhance the standard Flowcode package. These features will also need periodic review and update, but I suspect those using Flowcode for education and the development of commercial use code, will welcome and embrace these options.

I am aware of the thread linked below, but recognising that designing secure communications is way beyond the capability of the average Flowcode user and indeed Matrix’s target audience, you really need to offer a robust 'turn key' solution.
viewtopic.php?f=65&t=18641&p=100568&hil ... on#p100568

I therefore ask if Matrix can seriously consider creating a sustainable business model able to deliver the above.

To help Matrix get an idea of the potential interest, I also ask forum users to indicate their support or otherwise, for the need of Flowcode to offer a ‘secure communications’ option.

Kind regards

Martin

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Benj
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Re: A suite of encryption tools for use with Flowcode

Post by Benj »

Hello Martin,

You are correct that security is a must have for anything serious in this day and age and is something we have been giving though to. We are working on a new chip pack for the ESP32 range of hardware and one of the great benefits of this is that it should work well with HTTPS servers and therefore provide the level of encryption you're after.

Raspberry pi would also be another viable target with access to the processing and libraries to pull of good encryption.

We can investigate further on other targets too going forward and see what's possible. No doubt ST-ARM and PIC32 have some sort of libraries to deal with this we can potentially tap into.

Which chip type and modules are you interested in using?

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Re: A suite of encryption tools for use with Flowcode

Post by Ariko »

Hi Ben,

Thank you for responding to my post. It is good to know that Matrix are already giving this topic some thought.

I am currently looking at future projects using ST ARM 32F407VE, but my advice would be to take a strategic approach rather pick off devices here and there. Easy for me to say I know. I appreciate that in relatively small company the existing staff have to pick-up and run with the new ideas as well as carrying out their day jobs.

I would think Matrix needs to consider the wider industry view in order to maximise the potential revenue. You must be able fund the effort required to keep the tools up to date. This is essential, otherwise these tools will be of no value to your customers (especially the commercial users of flowcode).

Given that Matrix has a strong presence in the education sector I think you are well placed to offer training in secure communications implementation. I suspect it might be challenging to get going but I am not aware of others fulfilling this role at present and it is always best to get there first.

Flowcode might not be the most efficient way to write code but it is fast and in today’s world speed counts. Putting the two things together i.e. the simplicity within flowcode to add secure comms and an 'essentials' training package, would make flowcode very attractive for those developers of low volume, special application type products that need to be secure.

I really hope you are able to provide something along these lines and hope that you can keep us posted.

Kind regards

Martin

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