Board level shields help protect the components and circuits on a PCB and control electromagnetic interference. This helps the board and final device to function normally, and which is why EMI shields are used by PCB designers and manufacturers. However, there are many other benefits of using good quality and flexible EMI shields. The role of board level shields goes beyond mitigating EMI as they are also known to protect sensitive data. These shields while protecting sensitive signals from clashing electromagnetic signals also help prevent the unauthorized interception of transmitted signals by any third party device. This post discusses how PCB shields can also help protect sensitive data in electronic devices and offer a layer of security.
How PCB Shields Protect Sensitive Data in Electronic Devices?
While there are plenty of measures taken to maintain data integrity, such as passwords, encryption, revoking access, training, and so on, protecting sensitive data comes as a byproduct or an additional benefit of using PCB shields. Here is how shields help protect data interception.
- These shields suppress or reroute the electromagnetic waves coming from certain components within the circuit which may otherwise get transmitted outside the circuit unintentionally. This poses data leakage risk.
- In server rooms, data centers, and so on, where a large number of electronic devices are present at a close distance, shields that are electromagnetically compatible (EMC), prevent sensitive data on the board components from EMI generated by the other devices.
- The physical barrier set by the shield protects only those areas of the board that are shielded. The double layer which is conductive on the outer and non-conductive on the inner side physically stops any signals that may pass inside, controlling data leakage by default.
- The grounding plane of PCBs also acts as a source of protecting sensitive data. It creates a low-impedance path for any unwanted electrical charges or electromagnetic waves to be redirected to the ground. This pushed them away from any sensitive components.
- Sensitive data often involves high-frequency signals that are susceptible to noise and interference. The shields provide isolation between different sections of the board, thus reducing crosstalk due to clashing of signals. This reduced noise in turn also maintains data integrity.
- A major factor here is the level of shielding effectiveness. The higher the effectiveness, the better is the signal integrity. Check for the level of shielding effectiveness measured in decibels. Also, it depends on the materials of the shield. Any shield which is effective in shielding EMI would be helpful in preventing data leakage too. Opt for a plasticized metal shield made of conductive metal as well as a non-conductive surface of polyetherimide. This works best for both mitigating EMI as well as protecting sensitive data.
EMI shields play a huge role not only in mitigating noise but also offer other benefits such as protecting data leakage. This increases security, efficiency, and operating life of the board and subsequently that of the device. Always opt for EMC enabled lightweight and flexible shields made from plasticized metals. XGR Technologies offers SnapShot EMI shields that not only meet the US EMC standards but offer several benefits in terms of cutting down EMI and protecting data. They are made from a thin polyetherimide film on the interior and tin on the exterior surfaces. These are lightweight and flexible EMI shields that help reduce electromagnetic coupling. If you need further information on these EMI shields, you can contact the XGR Technologies team via phone or email.
