GCF and IMC collaborate to evaluate global cybersecurity certification
Eve Goode
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The IoT M2M Council (IMC) and Global Certification Forum (GCF) have teamed up to create a joint initiative to evaluate a global cybersecurity certification for IoT services.
Joint Task Force
GCF and IMC have formed a Joint Task Force to determine the feasibility of a holistic approach, including devices, networks and IoT cloud/app platforms.
This unique approach differs from most certifications for IoT security, which concentrate on certifying security mainly on the device side.
Further information will be available at the IMC’s booth and IMC-led panel discussion at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2025.
Participation
Some of the leading technology and service providers to the IoT sector have already agreed to participate in the Joint Task Force, which is open to the participation of additional companies. The companies participating includes:
- Aeris
- DEKRA
- Digi International
- Element Material Technologies
- Eurofins
- filancore
- Finite State
- Keysight
- MultiTech
- Quectel
- Rohde & Schwarz
- SGS
- Somos
- Tartabit
- Telit Cinterion
- Thales
- Vodafone
“The only way to truly provide incremental security”
Lars Nielsen, CEO, GCF commented: “Massive increases in security breaches, coupled with sea-change technologies like AI, make this effort imperative.
“We see ensuring all three layers of the IoT stack as the only way to truly provide incremental security and companies that are involved in advancing IoT technology understand that.”
Increased IoT security
A recent IMC survey shows that a strong plurality (41%) of companies responding see increased IoT security as a competitive advantage to drive revenue.
Sri Ramachandran, IMC Chair and CTO, Somos stated: “Another point made clear by our polling is that all sides of the IoT ecosystem are struggling to contend with different standards and regulations from different parts of the world, we hope to help alleviate this issue.”
The IMC plans to promote the certification scheme to its membership of 28,000 enterprise users, product makers/designers and apps developers that deploy IoT solutions.
The GCF currently certifies more than 600 products every year from nearly 100 vendors, including smartphones, modules, IoT devices and software clients.
“An increasing share of all GCF’s certifying activity is related to IoT services” added Nielsen.
