Microsoft, Marvell, Oracle, and OCP Open-Source Project Tessera for Hardware Security

Project Tessera Announced at OCP Global Summit

Microsoft unveiled Project Tessera at the OCP Global Summit, marking the evolution of its Azure Integrated Hardware Security Module (HSM) into a fully open-source initiative. This project is a collaborative effort involving Marvell, Oracle, and the Open Compute Project (OCP).

Open-Source Hardware Security Architecture

Project Tessera will open-source the workload directly attached to the HSM architecture, including specifications, protocols, drivers, software, firmware, and reproducible build environments. The long-term goal is to achieve a fully open-source silicon implementation, making the hardware broadly available for adoption and contribution across the industry ecosystem.

Building on Previous Open-Source Success

This initiative follows the model established by Microsoft and other collaborators with Caliptra, an open-source silicon root-of-trust that has seen widespread adoption. Project Tessera applies this same transparent and collaborative approach to advance hardware key protection within the industry.

Addressing Evolving Cybersecurity Threats

The project responds to a changing cybersecurity landscape, particularly the increased speed and scale of cyberattacks driven by AI. AI-orchestrated attacks amplify risks such as credential theft and key exfiltration. Protecting keys and credentials is critical, as their compromise can enable attackers to impersonate entities, bypass controls, and access sensitive data.