Secure storage in the context of software protection and license management systems

Significance in software protection

Secure storage forms the backbone of modern protection mechanisms against pirated copies, license fraud, and industrial espionage. It enables:
- Integrity protection through digital signatures
- Transparent decryption at runtime (e.g., via decode-on-the-fly)
- Hardware-isolated key storage in dongles or TPM chips

The goal is to create a tamper-proof environment that only interacts with authorized licenses.  

Core elements  

Influencing factors  

- Compliance requirements: GDPR, ISO 27001, or industry-specific regulations (e.g., Medical Device Regulation)
- Attack vectors: Ransomware, side-channel attacks, or physical reading of memory chips
- Technology trends: Increase in edge computing devices and quantum-resistant encryption

Benefits for companies

- Cost reduction: Reduction of revenue losses due to piracy (BSA study 2025: 37% illegal software use)
- Compliance security: Automated compliance with license agreements and updates
- Scalability: Cloud-based licensing solutions for global teams

Practical example 2025: Renesas RA8x1 microcontroller  

The RA8x1 series implements “Decode-on-the-Fly” (DOTF) – real-time decryption that only decodes code when it is executed in RAM. Keys are stored in a separate Secure Storage Module (SSM) that is physically hardened against side-channel attacks.  

Future prospects (2025+)

- AI-supported anomaly detection in license usage patterns
- Homomorphic encryption for cloud-based secure storage solutions
- Standardization of post-quantum cryptography in dongles (NIST recommendations from Q3/2025)

Conclusion

Secure storage is not an optional add-on, but a strategic competitive factor for software providers. With the shift toward SaaS and IoT models, the requirements for end-to-end encryption are increasing – from source code to license logic. Companies that invest in this area in 2025 will secure technological and legal sovereignty.