Kiwa and KPN Security have recently combined their expertise to help manufacturers and suppliers who wish to independently assess and certify their IoT consumer electronics.
This ensures consumers that certified products meet standard safety requirements. Nowadays virtually every household has several ‘smart devices’. Wifi-connected refrigerators, smart TV’s and lighting and online health trackers have become common household products. Too often these IoT devices are not or insufficiently protected against digital threats such as cyberattacks and data leaks. This carries the risk of cybercriminals infecting these IoT devices with rogue software or intercepting network traffic.
Manufacturers and suppliers now have the opportunity to have their IoT products tested against the ETSI EN 303 645 standard, which contains requirements and procedures for the cybersecurity of devices which can be connected to the Internet of Things. This promotes the application of built-in security measures. Thermostats, doorbells, security cameras and other IoT devices that do not meet minimum cybersecurity requirements are expected to be banned from the European market from 2024. This is the result of new EU legislation that was recently adopted. This should ensure that consumers are better protected against cybercrime via IoT consumer electronics.
Suppliers and manufacturers can now rely on Kiwa and KPN Security for independent assessment and certification of IoT devices on aspects related to cybersecurity.
The two parties signed a cooperation agreement for this on November 2, 2021. This allows suppliers and manufacturers to have their products independently certified at a one-stop-shop, enabling them to bring new products to market quickly.
Sabyne Van Mourik, business development manager at Kiwa
With a product certificate, manufacturers can demonstrate that the foundation for cybersecurity is present in their IoT consumer products. This offers good protection against cyberattacks that can for example cause data leaks. Consumers know that a product meets the basic safety requirements.
Erno Doorenspleet, CTO at KPN Security
IoT devices are becoming increasingly popular because they can add a lot of value to our lives by making things more sustainable, simpler or efficient. Security is an absolute precondition for this. It is crucial to build IoT products securely from scratch, so that they are safe by design.
