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Apple today released the 2021 update to its Platform Security Guide and updated the Apple Platform Security landing page.
The latest guide details the new and updated security features introduced with iOS 14, macOS 11 Big Sur, Apple Silicon Macs, watchOS 7, and more. Apple also launched an all-new website and guide for security certifications and compliance centers. Apple has long held the view that secure software requires a security foundation built into the hardware. With the move to using its own Apple Silicon in the first three M1 Macs introduced last fall, the company was able to realize that goal across its entire lineup of devices.
2021 Apple Platform Security Guide
Device security is a never-ending mission, and the latest Apple Platform Security Guide details all of the efforts and changes Apple has implemented over the past year—most notably, the guide has grown by 39 pages with this edition, bringing its total to 196 pages.
This documentation provides details on how security technologies and features are implemented within Apple platforms. It also helps organizations combine Apple platform security technology and features with their own policies and procedures to meet their specific security requirements.
While there are a number of security updates that apply to existing/legacy devices, Apple Silicon has been able to particularly stand out with the M1 Macs, which allow security to be taken to a new level when it comes to data protection via a rebuilt FileVault, system integrity, password protection, and more.
Apple Platform Security Guide: There are also new topics
Another notable change in the last year was enhanced BlastDoor security for iMessage (not specifically mentioned in the new security guide). While it was only recently discovered in iOS 14, we learned that Apple has also included it in macOS Big Sur. It's an under-the-hood change that users won't notice. But it's the biggest security improvement for iMessage since the service got end-to-end encryption - you can read more about BlastDoor here here.
Below you will find all the topics added to the Apple Platform Security Guide this year:
- Memory-safe iBoot implementation
- Boot process for a Mac with Apple Silicon
- Boot modes for a Mac with Apple Silicon
- Startup Disk Security Policy Control for a Mac with Apple Silicon
- Creation and management of LocalPolicy signing keys
- Contents of a LocalPolicy file for a Mac with Apple Silicon
- Signed System Volume Security in macOS
- Apple security research device
- password monitoring
- IPv6 security
- Car Key Security in iOS
In addition to the new topics, existing areas have also been updated:
- Secure Enclave
- hardware microphone mute
- RecoveryOS and diagnostic environments for an Intel-based Mac
- Direct Memory Access Protection for Mac Computers
- Kernel extensions in macOS
- protecting system integrity
- System Security for watchOS
- Managing FileVault in macOS
- App access to saved passwords
- Recommendations for password security
- Apple Cash security in iOS, iPadOS and watchOS
- Secure business chat with the messaging app
- WiFi privacy
- Activation Lock security
- Security of Apple Configurator 2
Together with the updated guide To ensure the security of the Apple platform, Cupertino has set up a completely new security certification and compliance center. (Photo by New Africa / Bigstockphoto)
