// THREAT DETECTION AND DATA PRIVACY TERM
Processor
A processor is a company or individual that handles personal data on behalf of another organization, known as the controller. They act only on the controller's instructions and do not determine the purpose or means of the data processing.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Under data protection regulations like GDPR and CCPA, a Processor is a third-party entity (e.g., cloud provider, SaaS vendor, payroll service) that processes personal data on behalf of and under the explicit instructions of a Data Controller. The relationship is governed by a Data Processing Agreement (DPA), which outlines the processor's responsibilities for data security, confidentiality, and sub-processor management.
BACKGROUND
Computer security is a subdiscipline within the field of information security. It focuses on protecting computer software, systems, and networks from threats that can lead to unauthorized information disclosure, theft, or damage to hardware, software, or data, as well as to the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Data Processor
- Third-party Vendor
- Service Provider
- Sub-processor
- Data Handler
- Service Organization
USAGE NOTE
This term has specific legal meaning; incorrectly classifying an entity as a Processor instead of a Controller can lead to significant compliance failures and fines.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Processor.
A leading manufacturer of microprocessors, Intel develops CPUs with advanced hardware-based security features such as Software Guard Extensions (SGX) and Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) that are used in commercial, enterprise, and defense systems to protect data and code.
AMD designs high-performance CPUs and GPUs that incorporate security features at the silicon level, such as Secure Encrypted Virtualization (SEV) and the Platform Security Processor (PSP), which are critical for secure computing in data centers and defense applications.
While known for GPUs, NVIDIA develops Data Processing Units (DPUs) like BlueField, which are processors designed to offload networking, storage, and security functions from the CPU, enhancing the security and efficiency of data centers used in defense and intelligence.
A major defense, security, and aerospace company that develops its own line of specialized, radiation-hardened processors (e.g., RAD5545) designed for extreme environments in space, avionics, and missile guidance systems, ensuring operational reliability and security.
Arm designs processor architectures that are licensed globally. Their designs include security-focused technologies like TrustZone, which creates a secure, isolated world within a processor, a fundamental component for securing everything from mobile devices to critical infrastructure.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is a U.S. Department of Defense agency that funds and manages research into breakthrough technologies. DARPA's Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) runs programs like SSITH (System Security Integration Through Hardware and Firmware) to develop novel processor architectures that are inherently resistant to cyberattacks.
IBM develops high-performance processors for its server and mainframe lines, such as the Telum processor, which features on-chip AI acceleration for real-time fraud detection, and the POWER architecture, which has a strong focus on security and reliability for mission-critical enterprise and government workloads.
As a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), Lincoln Laboratory conducts research and development in support of U.S. national security. This includes advanced microelectronics, where they design and prototype secure processors and trusted computing hardware for the Department of Defense.