New research group for hardware security at BFH

Cybersecurity New research group for hardware security at BFH

2025-01-25 By Berner Fachhochschule | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

The newly established research group for hardware security at the Institute for Cybersecurity and Engineering ICE of the Berner Fachhochschule BFH is dedicated to a central and increasingly relevant topic: the security of embedded and networked systems. The aim is to better understand threats and risks in this area and to develop effective solutions.

"We continuously monitor the security landscape and have identified a clear need for more research in the area of hardware security," says Bruce Nikkel, co-director of the Institute for Cybersecurity and Engineering ICE. The increasing interconnectedness of hardware—especially in the context of Industry 4.0—presents new challenges. Many companies integrate cloud services and connect their sometimes decades-old systems via the internet, which opens up a completely new risk dimension. In the past, industrial systems were mostly isolated and protected through physical security measures such as access controls. However, today's networking creates vulnerabilities that were often not previously considered. Companies that traditionally relied on physical security often have little experience dealing with modern cyber threats. Added to this are cyber resilience laws, such as the European Union's Cyber Resilience Act, which demand improved cybersecurity standards for products containing a digital component throughout their lifecycle.

Range of services

The group offers hardware security and risk assessments, penetration testing and fault injection, side-channel attack analysis, as well as consulting on hardware supply chain security. They support various industries and a wide range of devices, including IoT devices for consumers and industry, OT devices, smart buildings, smart cars, and embedded systems for medical applications. Additionally, forensic support is provided for data extraction from embedded systems.

Although the research group is still in the founding phase, the potential is enormous. The goal is to support Industry 4.0 companies as well as manufacturers and users of IoT devices. This should contribute to the security and stability of connected systems, benefiting both the economy and society.

Institute for Cybersecurity and Engineering ICE

The research group complements the existing research groups of the institute, including E-Voting, Fintech Security, and Wireless Communication and Secure Internet of Things. It provides specific expertise and tools that can be beneficial to the work of these groups. The Institute for Cybersecurity and Engineering ICE develops new technologies to protect society, the economy, and infrastructures from cyber threats.

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Date: 08.12.2025

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