Dubai: Google’s three smartphones – Pixel 4, Pixel 4a and Pixel XL – are among a wide range of devices that got certified by ioXt Alliance.
Devices certified by the ioXt Alliance also include smart home, lighting controls, IoT Bluetooth, smart retail, portable medical, pet trackers, routers and automotive technology from leading players such as Google, T-Mobile, Silicon Labs, Leedarson and DSR.
The ioXt Alliance is backed by more than 200 biggest names in tech and is the only organisation positioned to handle the rapidly increasing demand for IoT device certifications that meet security requirements across every product category.
“Devices with the ioXt SmartCert gives consumers and retailers greater confidence in a highly connected world,” Brad Ree, Chief Technology Officer at ioXt Alliance, told businessbenchmark news.
With this certification, ioXt Alliance has plugged the hole on the biggest challenge facing the industry that is the security, privacy and safety of the IoT devices while bringing transparency and unified standard to connected gadgets.
One of the main issues of the current IoT devices is that it comes with pre-installed passwords and not configured to receive or run software updates.
Ree said that the eight principles of ioXt are no universal passwords, secured interfaces, proven cryptography, security default, automatic security updates, verified software, security expiration data and vulnerability reporting programme.
“One of the profiles we launched is Android and around the profile, there are different pieces of information such as how long the software is updated and how long the product will be supported.
What Google is really looking at is bringing upfront what their security ratings are and drive the entire Android ecosystem along,” he said.
Google supports three years of software security updates for each version.
“While consumers have long called for better device security and privacy protections, we understand that retailers are now putting tremendous pressure on consumer tech to ensure the IoT products they put on their shelves are secure,” he said.
“Transparency about the security ‘ingredients’ in connected devices acts like a tide to raise all boats, helping users make better decisions and the world realise the potential of the Internet of Things,” said Dave Kleidermacher, Google Vice-President of Engineering at Android Security and Privacy.
Providing transparency
With significant revenues on the line, Lee said that companies are recognising the need to provide transparency and assurance to those using or selling their products.
“We are proud to be the organisation that big players in the industry are increasingly relying on to thoroughly test and certify products as secure, no matter the type of device,” he said.
Moreover, he said that the market is going to see some interesting cellular announcements over the next year from ioXT Alliance.
“IoT products are working their way into every aspect of our lives as consumers and in business which offers those with malicious intent a vector of which to prey and security is not optional,” Mike Dow, Senior Product Manager of IoT Security at Silicon Labs, said.
With major manufacturers and tech disruptors on board, membership growing and Authorised Labs such as Bureau Veritas – 7layers, DEKRA and NCC Group, Lee said the ioXt Alliance continues to pave the way in defining industry-led global security standards that can be tested at scale.
