Why tops?

New standards and regulations require the provisioning of digital identities in electronic devices.
These identities rely on certificates and their associated private keys.
For OEMs, ODMs, and EMS providers, this introduces significant challenges.

Several solutions exist for generating and provisioning digital certificates, the most common being:

  • Cloud KMS-based certificate generation
  • In-house solutions using open-source libraries

At first glance, these options seem viable. However, hidden costs and operational challenges quickly emerge.

 

 The Pitfalls of Cloud KMS Solutions          

Cloud KMS providers offer low-cost certificates, but several drawbacks arise:

  • Secure transport: Certificates must be securely delivered to the production site.
  • Private key handling: Sensitive data must also be transferred, requiring a highly secure storage solution at the factory.
  • Data conversion: Decryption, format conversion, and address mapping add complexity.
  • Service dependency: Availability depends on internet access and the KMS provider's reliability.
  • Service longevity: Some well-known KMS services have been discontinued for strategic or geopolitical reasons.
  • Security risks: Certificates and keys are stored externally, increasing exposure to SaaS cyberattacks.
  • Limited support: Low-cost services offer no guarantees or technical assistance.

 

 The Challenges of In-House Solutions     

Managing your own certificate generation grants full control, but at a higher cost than expected:

  • Expertise required: A security specialist must be hired or reassigned, diverting focus from core business activities.
  • Long-term maintenance: Continuous updates are needed to mitigate evolving cyber threats.
  • Key storage security: Protecting certificates private keys and CA keys requires an expensive and complex HSM.
  • Industrialization efforts: Implementing, testing, and refining the solution delays production and inflates costs.

 

 tops advantages                                          

tops offers a secure, cost-effective, and fully automated provisioning solution, allowing you to focus on your core expertise.
Developed by cybersecurity experts over many years, tops eliminates the hidden costs and risks associated with other methods.

With tops, you gain:
 ✔ Enhanced security – Proven protection against cyber threats and key storage.
 ✔ Simplified implementation – No need for in-house expertise.
 ✔ Cost reduction – A fraction of the expense of other solutions.
 ✔ Sovereignty – You own the keys and CA, with no external dependencies.
 ✔ Seamless automation – Secure provisioning at scale.

Don't compromise on security or efficiency. Don't loose the focus on your core expertise.
Choose tops for a proven and sustainable provisioning solution.

 

 tops a complete range of products 

tops a complete range of products for all use cases: