Vodafone, Siemens, BT, and Intel among founding members

Sep 23, 2015 22:21 GMT  ·  By

Companies that activate on the IoT (Internet of Things) market are coming together to create a non-profit group that will focus on increasing the security guidelines around IoT products.

While hailed at first as a natural evolution, IoT products are becoming a burden for their makers, mainly because of security loopholes many didn't have the vision to anticipate.

With more and more cases where security experts break apart IoT devices with relative ease, their makers are not only losing clients but are losing face, being embarrassed with every new hacking case that comes to surface.

To avoid further damage to their image, and even possible lawsuits in the future, these companies are now creating the Internet of Things Security Foundation, which will act as an intermediary between the manufacturers and end consumers, testing IoT products for glaring security holes, before being released to the public.

If this sounds familiar, then you've probably read our story about the Online Trust Alliance, an informal industry group and charity organization, which, at the start of the month, announced the release of a security framework aimed at improving the security of IoT products by educating manufacturers of common security best practices.

Collaboration is the key to improving IoT security

John Moor, Vice President of Segment Development at NMI, and member on the foundation's Executive Steering Board commented, "the opportunity for IoT is staggering. [...] However, there are ever-real security challenges that accompany those opportunities. [...] Given the nature of IoT systems, this can only be done by working internationally and with others."

Some of the IoT Security Framework founding members include academic institutions and global brands like Vodafone, BT, Siemens, Intel, Broadcom, Semtech, University of Greenwich, City University London, and Pen Test Partners.

If you don't think a security framework for the IoT is needed, then you need to read some of our coverage of IoT-related hacks. Only this summer alone we wrote about sniper rifles, electric skateboards, gas stations, fridges, baby monitors, smart homes, and smart cars..