Soft or virtual SIM (vSIM) cards provide a hardware-free, simple method of achieving all the functionality of a traditional SIM card without the need for secure data storage or a secure processor. A soft SIM, such as the Acceleronix vSIM resides in the memory and processor of the communications device and doesn’t need its own hardware. Although no current GSMA standard exists in relation to soft SIMs, Acceleronix has taken extensive measures to ensure secure operation of the Acceleronix vSIM and soft SIMs in general follow GSMA guidelines for the operational behavior of a SIM.
The benefit of the Acceleronix vSIM approach to users is that their overall device size can be reduced and the vSIM is added to the board space occupied by the communication module – nothing extra is required. This helps designers optimize their bill of materials (BOM) cost and their manufacturing expenses. In addition, components such as plastic cards and SIM trays are simply not needed and can be removed from device designs.
Analyst research demonstrates that the market is moving on from traditional plastic SIMs and increasingly adopting variants of embedded SIMs (eSIMs). According to IoT Analytics’ Global IoT eSIM Modules & iSIM Chipsets Market Tracker, a third of the total number of cellular IoT modules shipped in Q2 2024 were eSIM-capable. That figure describes devices that included an eSIM in the module and compares to the 62.3% of devices that continue to use physical SIM cards, with the remainder (just under 5% of the market) utilizing Soft SIM technology.
The firm also points out that, since eSIM technology incorporates embedded secure elements that protect the integrity of cellular IoT modules, 33% of cellular IoT modules shipped included dedicated hardware-based security. Acceleronix vSIM is contained within the module and therefore offers similar hardware-based security.
Further savings follow
In addition to the security foundation, user organizations can make greater savings because Acceleronix vSIM has no requirement for device makers to purchase or install a SIM because the vSIM is already in the module. Devices also don’t need to be configured at the point of deployment and there is no need to change physical SIMs if a different connectivity provider is selected because this can be done as an over-the-air (OTA) upgrade. Simply put, vSIM delivers lower costs and greater flexibility than other SIM formats while providing hardware-based security.
This makes vSIMs ideal for deployments that have long lifespans because they can easily adapt to changes during that long life. In addition, they are robust thanks to there being no physical, moving parts that can be tampered with or affected by environmental issues such as dust ingress, failure soldered connections or even card theft.
Change the vSIM story
Soft SIMs in general have received a bad press because traditional SIM vendors see the technology as a threat. They’re right in that respect but they continue to suggest soft SIMs are insufficiently secure and should not be used. The reality is that vSIM deployment and management is secure because the SIM credentials reside in the Acceleronix module itself, rather than in that secure enclave that an iSIM would be kept in, for example.
With vSIM, all the communication and storage are encrypted, and security certificates are taken care of to enable secure communications between systems. This creates an environment that is secured in multiple dimensions with the perceived security of GSMA-compliant SIM form factors replicated in the vSIM. The security difference between vSIM and other SIM variants is therefore semantic and has no real substance.
Acceleronix certainly takes security and standardization very seriously and therefore follows GSMA SIM security guidelines in the absence of a formal GSMA standard for soft SIMs. We’re confident our users can rely on our secure vSIM functionality while reaping the benefits of the operational simplicity that we provide.
When to select vSIM
While vSIM should not be the SIM solution for every use case, for organizations that are looking to simplify their device design, reduce the number of components in their devices and save on their costs, the Acceleronix vSIM makes a compelling case. For businesses that want the ability to change network providers during the lifespan of deployments or to add connectivity to their already-installed base of favourite modules, Acceleronix vSIM provides a simple method of upgrading firmware over-the-air to achieve these aims.
For many deployment scenarios, the level of security Acceleronix bases in its module hardware is more than adequate and the benefits of having no physical SIM to manage, the ability to free up space in the device, the capability to switch profiles at any time and Acceleronix’s convenient and attractive remote control management interfaces, far outweigh perceived limitations of the technology.
Find out how Acceleronix can transform your IoT connectivity with vSIM today at www.acceleronix.io
