TPM vs PTT: Check the Difference Between TPM and PTT

TPM vs PTT: Definition

What is TPM?

TPM (Trusted Platform Module) is a specialized and dedicated chip installed on the motherboard. It generates, stores, and limits cryptographic keys required to access system files on the hardware stage. A lot of researchers believe it is better to store security keys from a hardware level rather than software. This will make it harder for malicious software to hack and access your data.

Simply put, TPM acts as endpoint security for the devices which support it. For instance, motherboards from MSI, ASUS, and Gigabyte use TPM. If you encrypt your storage drive with TPM, it protects your data including your identity and operating system files from being attacked. This encryption method also protects your data even in the case of physical theft.

What is PTT?

PTT (Platform Trust Technology) is a software-based TPM, which can be found in some Intel chipsets. Intel PTT is a platform functionality for credential storage and key management used by Windows 11. This patented technology has been introduced since Intel’s 4th generation processors. It provides the same TPM security protocol without the need for an extra physical chip.

After you have checked the definition of the two technologies, you can move to the next section to see the difference between TPM and PTT.

TPM vs PTT: Differences

PTT and TPM are two different technologies, but they complement each other. Since many CPUs have TPM support from a firmware level, you can use PTT on a computer that supports TPM 2.0 but it doesn’t have a dedicated chip.

Computers with Intel PTT or AMD’s built-in firmware version don’t require a dedicated crypto-processor or memory. Instead, they rely on secure access to the system’s host processor and memory to execute low-level system authentication and verification.

TPM creates “root of trust” by using unique cryptographic keys burned into physical media soldered onto the motherboard. This benefits industrial PC space a lot because it lets organizations establish the same rigorous levels of security on endpoints and gateways as on desktop hardware.

As TPM is located inside the computer physically, it’s nearly impossible for attackers to have any luck spoofing, tampering with, or defeating its protections. However, TPM adds cost and complexity to system designs.

PTT enables more devices including lower-cost and lower-power systems to support the same root of trust concepts enabled by hardware-based TPM. It is being used on low-power computers, tablets, and other devices that couldn’t bear the extra cost, complexity, power consumption, or required physical space that comes with hardware-based TPM.

Importantly, PTT supports all of Microsoft’s latest operating system requirements for TPM 2.0. As you might know, TPM is required to install Windows 11. What to do if your computer doesn’t have TPM? Well, you can find out if your PC has TPM by using this guide. Then follow the given tutorial to install Windows 11 without TPM or download and install the following lightweight operating systems.

• Nexus LiteOS 11
• Nexus LiteOS 10
• Ghost Spectre Windows 11 Superlite
• Ghost Spectre Windows 10 Superlite
• Tiny10
• Rectify11

TPM vs PTT: Conclusion

From this post, you can learn the difference between TPM and PTT. Then you are able to make use of them properly and improve your computer’s security level.