Security breaches where private files and personal data are stolen has sadly become commonplace in today’s digital age. Even more terrifying are the security breaches where a hacker gains access to your home, peering through cameras, listening on microphones, and even unlocking your front door. These are some of the risks posed by the Internet of Things (IoT). Several government and technology agencies have proposed rules and guidelines that could be adopted by technology companies to combat the most common security and privacy vulnerabilities, but a more comprehensive strategy is required. Security is a complex and dynamic problem that can’t simply be solved by a dedicated one-time effort. The issue is rapidly increasing as new products and services are introduced. Small developers, focused on creating the next generation of innovative connected products, often don’t have the resources and expertise to properly secure them. This has led to a deluge of highly insecure devices flooding the market and consumers’ homes.
The Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF) has created an open international standard, complete with open source software and a world-class security infrastructure that directly addresses this issue. Industry-leading security has been built into the OCF design: from the specifications, the software, and the development tools, to labs around the world that certify products and manage a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) system. Using these resources, a fully functional and interoperable IoT prototype that includes world-class security can be built in a matter of minutes. This paper will demonstrate how that is done.
Read the full article by OCF members Kyle Haefner and Clarke Stevens via Embedded.