Non-profit organisation Online Trust Alliance (OTA) recently released its Internet of Things Trust Framework, the first global, multi-stakeholder effort to address IoT risks comprehensively.
According to a statement put out by the organisation, the framework presents guidelines for IoT manufacturers, developers and retailers to follow when designing, creating, adapting and marketing connected devices in two key categories: home automation and consumer health and fitness wearables. OTA has also invited industry leaders to review the document and provide feedback.
With members that include ADT, AVG Technologies, Microsoft, Symantec, TRUSTe, Verisign and nearly 100 other subject matter experts, the OTA IoT Working Group was formed in January 2015. Through extensive research, this task force concluded that the safety and reliability of any IoT device, app or service depends equally on security and privacy, as well as a third, often overlooked component: sustainability.
“The rapid growth of the Internet of Things has accelerated the release of connected products, yet important capability gaps in privacy and security design remain as these devices become more and more a part of everyday life,” said Craig Spiezle, Executive Director and President of OTA, in a written statement. “For example with a fitness tracker does the user know who may be collecting and sharing their data? When you purchase a smart home what is the long-term support strategy of patching devices after the warranty has expired? How do manufactures protect against intrusions into smart TV’s and theft of data collected from device cameras and microphones? What is the collective impact on the smart grid or our first responders should large numbers of these devices be compromised at once?”
Image Credit: OTA