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Security Fundamentals & Crypto · Intermediate

Root of Trust (RoT)

Inherently trusted hardware or firmware component from which a chain of trust is built.

Definition

A hardware root of trust is immutable or strongly protected so its integrity can be assumed. TPMs, HSMs, and dedicated chips like Google Titan, Microsoft Pluton, and Apple's boot ROM serve this role. Each subsequent boot stage is verified from the root.

Example

Microsoft Pluton is a security processor integrated into the CPU that acts as the device's root of trust.

Exam tip

Secure boot and attestation both rely on a hardware root of trust.

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