Microsoft Azure Sphere

Unlock the Value of IoT with Confidence in your Security

Protect your IoT devices and equipment with defense in depth

With billions of new devices connected each year, it's more important than ever to secure yours. Help protect your data, privacy, physical safety, and infrastructure with Azure Sphere. It's built on decades of Microsoft experience in hardware, software, and cloud to provide a turnkey security solution for IoT devices.

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MT3620 Starter Kit V2

The Azure Sphere MT3620 Starter Kit V2 is an enhanced version of Avnet’s popular Azure Sphere Starter Kit. It supports rapid prototyping of highly secure, end-to-end IoT implementations based on Microsoft Azure Sphere. This small form-factor carrier board includes a production-ready MT3620 Sphere module with WiFi connectivity, along with multiple expansion interfaces facilitating easy integration of sensors, displays, motors, relays and more. Key features of this version are its ability to support a wired Ethernet network connection (requires MikroE ETH click adapter to be fitted) as well as more flexibility in how ISUs can be used. Downloadable documentation and tutorials guide developers through all steps, from board setup to application coding.

The Avnet-designed, production-ready, certified Azure Sphere MT3620 module is based on the MT3620 SoC, which includes built-in Microsoft security, WiFi connectivity plus the versatility and power of an Arm ® Cortex™-A7 processor and two real-time Arm Cortex-M4F microcontroller cores. A suite of on- chip peripherals, real-time clock, Flash and RAM are also available. In addition to the MT3620, the 33 x 22 mm module includes a dual-band WiFi chip antenna and system clock source. Up to 27 configurable GPIOs and three configurable serial ports (UART, I2C or SPI) are accessible on the module pinout.

The carrier board connects the Sphere module I/Os to two MikroE Click sockets, an I2C Grove connector, a connector supporting the addition of an optional 128 x 64 OLED graphical display, a 3D accelerometer, 3D gyro, temperature sensor and ambient light sensor. Debugging is accomplished through a USB-to-UART interface, which also provides 5V power to the board.

User applications for the embedded Sphere controller are developed in C using Microsoft’s Visual Studio IDE and Azure Sphere SDK. Visual Studio provides a powerful yet easy-to-use development environment for compiling and debugging application code. The combination of Visual Studio, the versatile carrier card plus the production-ready Sphere module delivers a powerful starting point for IoT developers interested in learning, prototyping and deploying Azure Sphere-based solutions MT3620 Starter Kit Product Brief

The version 1 kit has been discontinued.

MT3620 Module V3

The Avnet Azure Sphere MT3620 Module supports Microsoft’s Azure Sphere end-to-end solution for highly secured, Wi-Fi-connected microcontroller (MCU) devices. The production-ready, certified module supports an on-board chip antenna for cost-optimized systems.

By integrating all the necessary support and RF front-end circuitry onto the small 33 mm x 22 mm module, Avnet has reduced the design time for implementing Sphere-based solutions. More importantly, developers can leverage the module’s wireless certifications for their end product, saving considerable certification cost and testing time.

The Azure Sphere MT3620 module is based on the MT3620AN SoC, which supports dual-band 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity, a 500 MHz Arm® Cortex™-A7 core for user applications, and two general purpose 200MHz Arm Cortex-M4F I/O subsystem cores designed to support real-time requirements. The on-chip peripherals (GPIO, UART, I2C, SPI, PWM and ADC) can be mapped to dedicated I/O pins on the module for connection to external sensors, I/O connectors, or other user application circuits.

Microsoft’s end-to-end security, OTA update service, and user-friendly Visual Studio development environment add significant value when compared to traditional MCU solutions.

For development with the Avnet module, Avnet’s Azure Sphere MT3620 Starter Kit provides extremely versatile expansion options using a wide range of inexpensive add-on boards to facilitate rapid prototyping and fast time to market.  MT3620 Module Product Brief

Version 1 and 2 modules have been discontinued.

MT3620 u.FL Module V2

The Avnet Azure Sphere MT3620 u.FL V2 module is identical to the MT3620 V3 module with the exception of the RF font-end circuitry.  The u.FL module includes 2-u.FL antenna connectors (instead of a single chip antenna) to support 2 external antenna (not included).  The u.FL module targets Wi-Fi performance optimized systems where antenna diversity will improve the performance of the device.  Additionally, in applications where the main board may be enclosed in a metal box, the external antenna allow for placement outside of metal enclosures.

 The Azure Sphere MTY3620 u.FL V2 module is a special order part, please contact  your local Avnet FAE for assistance is placing orders.

Version 1 u.FL modules never went to market and are not available.

Guardian 100 - The Guardian 100 is no longer available - support documents are in the section below. 

Avnet Guardian 100 is a wireless edge module that uses Azure Sphere to deliver secure connectivity to devices. It includes Avnet Azure Sphere MT3620 module and connects to existing equipment via ethernet or usb. Guardian-enabled devices also receive automatic security updates through the Azure Sphere Security Service