OCF has issued certification for the first ever standards-based, low power, Internet of Things (IoT) platform to combine the end-to-end security benefits of Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF) technology and the low power and wide-area coverage advantages of Thread. Its availability creates “an unprecedented opportunity” for the rapid build and deployment of securely connected IP-based ultra-low-power devices, which lays a transformational foundation for highly secure smart building and smart city landscapes.
The certified platform from Cascoda is based on an open-source software development kit (SDK) and comprises the first ever module to offer OCF’s secure IP framework and application layer, and Thread’s low-power and scalable IPv6-based network layer protocol; the required Thread IP router; and OCF cloud connectivity functionality.
The combination of platform features, including a root of trust (RoT), cryptographic acceleration and hardware tamper protection features, combined with the unparalleled security features of OCF and Thread, have enabled it to gain both European and UK IoT security attestation through the IASME ‘IoT Security Assured scheme’. As a result, it aligns with OCF’s mission by enabling secure end-to-end IoT deployments that encompass device-to-device, device-to-cloud, and cloud-to-cloud without the privacy concerns of consumer-driven cloud-connected systems.
This development supports another key aim of OCF, which is to drive demand-side energy efficiencies in commercial building automation systems (BAS) and smart city infrastructure through migration to secure IP solutions. It also represents a significant step towards achieving the vision of IP-BLIS – a market interest group, which brings together standards organizations including OCF, KNX, DALI, BACnet, Thread Group, and Connectivity Standards Alliance to support the adoption of a secure, multi-standard IP-based infrastructure.
Image credit: Cascoda