Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 in Industrial PCs: What You Need to Know

What Is Secure Boot?

Secure Boot is a UEFI firmware feature that verifies the cryptographic signature of every piece of software loaded during the boot process — bootloader, OS kernel, and drivers. If any component has been tampered with or replaced by malware (such as a rootkit or bootkit), Secure Boot blocks the boot and alerts the operator. This prevents the most persistent and damaging form of malware from surviving system restarts.

What Is TPM 2.0?

A TPM (Trusted Platform Module) is a dedicated security microcontroller embedded in the motherboard that provides hardware-level cryptographic services. TPM 2.0 stores encryption keys, certificates, and platform measurements in tamper-resistant hardware — ensuring that even if an attacker has physical access to the drive, encrypted data cannot be read on a different machine.

Why Industrial PCs Need These Features

• Ransomware protection — BitLocker full-disk encryption (requires TPM 2.0) makes stolen drives unreadable
• Supply chain security — Secure Boot prevents compromised firmware from running even if the storage was tampered with during shipping
• IEC 62443 compliance — hardware security features are increasingly required in industrial cybersecurity audits
• Remote attestation — TPM can prove to a remote server that the device has not been modified

Avalue Industrial PCs with TPM 2.0

All modern Avalue industrial motherboards and Panel PCs include a TPM 2.0 chip and UEFI Secure Boot support — available from TSL Automation. Enable Secure Boot and BitLocker for all SCADA workstations and industrial HMI PCs as a baseline cybersecurity measure.