Wireless Industry Announces Cybersecurity Certification for Cellular IoT Devices

In a recent release, CTIA, the wireless industry association, announced the creation of the CTIA Cybersecurity Certification Program for cellular-connected Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The program is the first of its kind to be developed in collaboration with the nationwide wireless providers.

By offering certification for IoT devices built from the ground up with cybersecurity in mind, the program will protect consumers and wireless infrastructure, while creating a more secure foundation for smart cities, connected cars, mHealth and other IoT applications.

“America's wireless industry has long been a leader in cybersecurity best practices and establishing an industry-led cybersecurity certification program for IoT devices is a major step in building a trusted, secure wireless ecosystem for the Internet of Things,” said Tom Sawanobori, SVP and CTO, CTIA. “The IoT Cybersecurity Certification Program harnesses CTIA's network of authorized labs and reflects our commitment to securing networks and devices in an increasingly connected wireless world.”

Leading wireless operators, technology companies, security experts and test labs collaborated to develop the program's test requirements and plans. The program builds upon IoT security recommendations from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

“IoT security is fast becoming a priority as the global market grows to 3.5 billion cellular-connected IoT devices, with a 48 percent 5G mobile adoption rate in the U.S. by 2023, according to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report,” said Tomas Ageskog, Head of Digital Services, Ericsson North America. “CTIA's scalable and standards-aligned program complements Ericsson's secure-by-design approach to developing, deploying and managing communications infrastructure.”

The CTIA IoT Cybersecurity Certification Program will begin accepting devices for certification testing starting in October 2018. For more information on the program and how to participate, click here.

“To realize the exciting promise of IoT, security must be considered at every turn,” said William Boni, SVP, Digital Security, T- Mobile. “By setting these standards, the wireless industry is proactively leading the charge to secure previously unsecure devices, protecting our networks and customers against cyberattacks.”