22-0921/
Blog
Austrian company MUSE Electronics presents cybersecurity at the highest level. After 10 years of development work, the Austrian technology company celebrates a world premiere: The company presents BACKBONE, the world’s most secure tablet.
Thanks to its revolutionary security architecture, it guarantees full control over the processing as well as storage of sensitive data. The security concept is rounded off by an ultra-robust exterior, that allows usage under extreme conditions. It was developed by highly qualified experts for the uncompromising protection of sensitive data in military and industrial use.
The BACKBONE tablet - Zero Compromise Endpoint Security
Thanks to its unique and completely redesigned system architecture, BACKBONE goes beyond the highest security standards, and remains operational even under extreme military conditions thanks to its ultra-robust design. Designed and built in Austria, it marks a paradigm shift in the definition of cybersecurity. Over the course of years of development, supported by the Austrian Defence Research Funding Program (FORTE), – an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism (BMLRT), – use cases as well as proofs of concept have been continuously developed. BACKBONE will go into series development by the end of 2023 and will be delivered from 2024. The official premiere of BACKBONE took place at the IKT Security Conference in Vienna, on September 14 and 15, 2022, in the presence of Austrian Federal Minister of Defence Klaudia Tanner.
Physical separation as the key to control
BACKBONE’s system architecture is the spine of the innovative security concept, which has been newly designed from square one. What other manufacturers try to solve with software is solved with BACKBONE at the hardware level. For the first time, it is possible to simultaneously process and store data from several security domains (freely definable security area from which no data may leak, Note) physically separated on one tablet. This prevents the loss of mission-critical data.
Furthermore, BACKBONE’s innovative hardware architecture allows safety-critical functions such as camera, microphone, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc. to be activated or deactivated at the hardware level, thus verifiably and reliably preventing unauthorized access to deactivated modules.
This is made possible by external boot devices that act as both storage and key for the tablet and are configured individually before each mission. The administrator defines, for example, whether the tablet user should have access to the camera, WiFi or GPS. Thus, BACKBONE offers the possibility of a specific configuration for each mission, but also allows the use of ready-made mission templates.
As soon as a boot device is plugged into a BACKBONE tablet, the enabled hardware configuration is automatically activated after cryptographic authentication (non-enabled modules remain deactivated at hardware level), and work can begin. All domain-related data is subsequently processed and stored automatically and exclusively on the connected boot device.
Several boot devices can be connected to a tablet at the same time. This allows simultaneous, physically separated work in several security domains, even if they are classified differently (e.g. MISSION SECRET as well as NATIONAL CONFIDENTIAL). If no boot device is connected to the tablet, BACKBONE can also be used safely for private purposes as a generic, data-free device.
“Our unique and patented solution thus enables full control over data from different security domains. Potential sources of error, as well as risks of misuse, are reduced to a maximum at the hardware level,“ says Philipp Lechner, founder and CEO of MUSE Electronics. “In a world where cybercrime always seems to be one step ahead and thus significantly interferes with the conflict, BACKBONE was developed out of the need to ensure data security first and foremost at the hardware level,“ explains Philipp Lechner. “Software solutions reveal loopholes that can be penetrated from the outside at any time. Our hardware approach, on the other hand, is uncompromising at all levels of security.“
Cybersecure and Extremely Robust
The following features distinguish BACKBONE from previous solutions on the market:
MULTI DOMAIN
An end user device for simultaneous use in multiple security domains
Guaranteed physical separation of multiple security domains through hosting of operating system and data on external boot device. Simultaneous usage of several boot devices with one end user device possible.
MULTI ROLE
An end user device with adaptable hardware configuration
Individual end user device hardware configuration activated upon connection of external boot device. Role/mission-based end user device handover including automatic hardware reconfiguration possible on the move in real time.
ULTRA RUGGED
A fully ruggedized data fortress without compromise
Physical robustness at an unmatched level and pushed to the brink of what is functionally possible.
SELF AWARE
Permanent real-time system integrity monitoring
Automatic detection of intrusion attempts as well as system damage. Automatic execution of security routines when end user devices are triggered by suspicious activity.
PREDICTIVE
Intelligent system data collection for predictive maintenance
Smart health tracking of end user devices for seamless management of the IT equipment ecosystem, improving efficiency and lowering life-cycle cost.
Team & Partner
Philipp Lechner draws on many years of experience in business development for defence & security manufacturers and knows about the extreme demands placed on BACKBONE. He is supported by the technical director Gerald Zach and a team of highly specialized experts.
In partnership with the Austrian Defence Research Program (FORTE), as well as a network of specialized partner companies, a productive ecosystem around BACKBONE has been developed in the last few years.
MUSE Electronics strives to enter into or expand cooperations with leading research & technology organizations and innovative companies.
Technical Details
The 10.1-inch display is made of shatter- & scratch-resistant BACKBONE tempered glass and has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. With a luminance of 1000 nits, it offers impressive clarity even in bright sunlight. The Austrian-made, rugged carbon case makes BACKBONE the only tablet on the market to use this material. Unlike other devices, there is no rigid connection between the case and the interior of BACKBONE. This protects against damage by providing true shock absorption. With an impressive IP rating of IP68/69K, this tablet is also ‘waterproof’ and can also operate for 24 hours at depths of up to 2 meters. BACKBONE’s carbon fiber case is hermetically sealed and with innovative soft caps for all ports on the tablet, takes protection to a new level. Both BACKBONE’s 5MP front camera and 13MP rear camera feature image stabilization, noise reduction and 1080p HD recording at 30 frames per second and 720p HD recording at 60 frames per second, respectively. Each device can be equipped to operate on 21 GSM/UMTS/LTE networks and features a fully integrated power-optimized antenna. For base operations, BACKBONE can be equipped with best-in-class Wi-Fi connectivity operating in both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, as well as Bluetooth (version 4.0) for maximum connectivity. Each unit is equipped with a GNSS receiver (GPS + GLONASS+GALILEO+BEIDOU).
OPERATING SYSTEM
Windows 10
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 295 x 28 x 192 mm
Weight: 1.3 kg
Case & Frame: Single frame, carbon fiber with shock absorption,
Material: Pre-impregnated low density carbon fiber (80% lower than steel with the same load capacity.
HARDWARE
CPU: Intel Atom x7-E3950 Quad-Core
Clock Speed: 1.6GHz Base Frequency, Burst 2.0GHz
GPU: Intel HD Gfx Gen9
RAM: 8GB LPDDR4
Security: TPM 2.0
Specification: Industrial
STORAGE
Universal Flash Storage (UFS) up to 512 GB on each External Boot Device
End User Device Internal UFS up to 512 GB (optional)
CONNECTORS
IP Rating: IP68/69 unmated
Hermetic Sealing
Extremely rugged, up to 10000 Mating Cycles
High Shock and Vibration Resistance, acc. MIL-STD-202 Dust/Mud Protective Soft Caps (Optional) High-Corrosion Resistance, 1000h Saltspray Test
360° EMC Shielding
TEMPERATURE
Operating: -20°C – 60°C
Storage: short term -20°C-60°C, up to one month: -10°C-45°C
DISPLAY
10.1″ LED Backlit Capacitive Multi Touch Display
Ultra-Strong BACKBONE Toughened Glass Screen
Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 FULL HD
Maximum Luminance: 1000 Nits
2mm Single-Layer Safety Glass with Anti-Reflection Coating
CAMERA
Front: 5MP
Rear: 13MP
1080p HD video recording at 30 FPS
720p HD video recording at 60 FPS
Autofocus
Exposure Control
Luminance Detection, White Balance / Black Level Calibration
Noise Reduction and Image Stabilization
SENSORS
Ambient Light
Three-Axis Gyroscope
Compass
Accelerometer
Gesture Control Sensor
CONNECTIVITY
Bluetooth Version 4.0
Dual Band 2.4 / 5 GHz
Wi-Fi 802.11 ac/a/b/g/n
2G / 3G / 4G
AUDIO
Integrated Digital: Audio Interface for Connection of a Headset
In : Microphone
Out : Headphones
LOCATION
Embedded GNSS Receiver with Dead Reckoning
GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BEIDOU
Active GNSS Antenna integrated
EXTERNAL CONNECTORS
1x USB 3.0
1x USB 2.0
1x Utility Connector: USB 2.0 / CAN / RS232 / Admin-Device Configuration Interface 1x Power
1x Ethernet 1 Gbit
1x Audio
Dual RS232 (Optional, instead of Audio)
BATTERY & POWER
Seamlessly Integrated 32Wh rechargeable LiFePO4 with Battery and Power Management 3.2V Included External Power Adapter 12Vdc/110-230Vac/50-60Hz External Power
Ready for Power Supply with BB-2590 as Power Bank or Usage with 12V/24V Vehicle Batteries
OPTIONAL
Ultra Rugged USB Stick
32 / 64 / 128GB Capacity
Vehicle Docking Station
Battle Management Software Radio Connection Data Cables
Adapter Cables