IoT cyber security standards finally approved (nearly)

The new EN 18031 set of standards which are needed to demonstrate conformity to the upcoming IoT cyber security laws in RED, have finally been cited (with restrictions) in the OJEU* meaning that they can go a long way to provide a presumption of conformity to the RED cyber security articles 3.3 d, e, and f once the product has been tested against them.

This comes after months of discussions between the EC and standards body CEN/CENELEC whose industry working groups (which includes SafeShark), created the standards.

However, not all the comments that the EC raised as concerns regarding the EN 18031 standards could be resolved during the discussions which means the standards have some restrictions and cannot fully be taken as providing conformity depending on the product.

These restrictions relate to categories such as password strengths, parental or guardian access controls, and in the case of 18031-3 for products that support financial transactions, assessment criteria of secure updates. The full details of the implementation decision can be read here.

As such, a Notified Body will be required to sign off any elements of the product test results that relate to the restrictions, which in the case of 18031-3 will be likely mean all products.

For 18031-1 and 18031-2 it will be required to check whether the restrictions apply to the product under test and therefore whether a Notified Body assessment will be required.

SafeShark can test all the EN 18031 standards at our Central London test lab and works with Notified Body KL Certification to provide you with clear and accurate guidance as to whether Notified Body certification is required.

Due to our unique automated cyber security test platform, templates for completing pre-test information, example documents for a typical IoT device, and detailed knowledge of the standards, our test service is fast, efficient, and cost effective.

Book your product in for testing today and ensure you're ready for RED cyber security which comes into effect on the 1^st Aug 2025

*The OJEU is the Official Journal of the EU which is essentially an index of standards that can be tested against to demonstrate conformity to the various articles of RED which cover criteria such as health and safety, EMC, RF and spectrum, and from 1^st Aug 2025 - cyber security

SafeShark Exposes Alarming Non-compliance Rates in Connected Consumer Devices

Following this week’s conformance deadline (April 29^th), SafeShark, the leading authority in connected product testing, has conducted analysis of more than 100 connected consumer devices currently on the market. The results show that a staggering three-quarters of these devices are still not compliant with the legal requirements set out in the Product Security and Telecoms Infrastructure Act.

SafeShark's testing revealed the concerning statistic that 92 of the 124 products (74%) we have checked in the past 24 hours fail to meet the necessary requirements. Plus,

Only 41% of the manufacturer websites had information about their vulnerability disclosure process - which is a mandatory provision in the legislation;
Only one quarter of product websites had the PSTI standard security support date mentioned for the product. Interestingly, 10% of products had PSTI information but did not quote the security support period as specified by the Act.

The findings underscore the urgent need for manufacturers, retailers, and distributors to prioritise compliance to ensure consumer safety and satisfaction.

Non-compliance carries potentially severe penalties, including withdrawal from UK market access and fines of £10m or 4% of global turnover, whichever is higher. That’s before any legal repercussions or damage to brand reputation. As consumers increasingly rely on connected devices in their daily lives, it is imperative for businesses to uphold the standards of quality and safety set out in the legislation as a minimum.

Commenting on the results, SafeShark Director Alex Buchan said: "The level of non-compliance we've uncovered is deeply concerning. It's clear that many manufacturers are falling short in meeting the essential requirements for connected consumer devices. The legislation provides businesses with explicit guidance on what compliance entails, and the OPSS can enforce stringent penalties against companies that fail to adhere to these regulations. We urge all stakeholders in the industry to take immediate action to address these issues."

SafeShark stands ready to assist manufacturers, retailers, and distributors in navigating the complexities of compliance and ensuring their products meet the necessary standards. By partnering with SafeShark, businesses can streamline their compliance journey and safeguard their reputation in the marketplace.

For more information on SafeShark's testing services and how we can help your business achieve compliance please contact our team directly.

UPDATED! UK and EU Cyber Security Legislation for Connected Devices

UPDATED: Our exclusive walkthrough of connected device legislation, which affects all connected products on the UK and EU markets, has been updated ahead of the April 29^th deadline.

Get your copy now which:

Adds more guidance about the products (and businesses) in scope
Includes new detailed information for retailers, distributors and installers about the requirements on them
Expands the section about the Statement of Compliance and the specific conditions that need to be met
Updates key compliance dates for both UK and EU
Provides new information about how to make sure you are covered (or certified that you don’t need to be) by the April 29^th deadline.

From the requirements on all parts of the chain, to the criteria and standards you need to meet, we break down the issues in simple, straightforward language and outline the actions and solutions you need to put in place today.

Get it here

Beko selects SafeShark as ‘clear choice’ for compliance partner

Beko is the latest brand to demonstrate its connected device compliance using SafeShark’s proprietary PSTI testing – the quick, simple way to prove products are in line with legislation before the April 29^th conformance deadline.

“Working with SafeShark has been a great experience for us at Beko,” said Arcelik Head of IoT Security Çağatay Büyüktopçu. “As pioneers in IoT Cyber Security, ensuring compliance with PSTI is paramount for our business. SafeShark's dedication to device security aligns perfectly with our values, and their 'as-a-service' model provides us with the peace of mind for ongoing and continuous compliance.”

“From the outset, their agility and enthusiasm for IoT security stood out, making them the clear choice for our strategic partnership. SafeShark's fast response times, flexibility, and excellent communication have made them a trusted ally in securing our IoT products in line with the new legislation. We wholeheartedly recommend SafeShark to any organisation seeking a reliable and efficient compliance partner for connected devices.”

Manufacturers, distributors and retailers now have less than two months to ensure all connected consumer devices they sell meet the new legislative requirements. From April 29^th this year they risk fines of up to £10m or 4% of global turnover (whichever is larger) and losing access to the UK market.

SafeShark’s quick, simple testing service ensures that won’t happen, issuing the government-mandated Statement of Compliance that must stay with the product throughout every stage of the distribution chain. Plus, thanks to our ongoing monitoring service, we can ensure that compliance throughout the lifetime of the product.

Beko is just one of the international brands passing their compliance burden to us to take care of, including the likes of LG, Philips, Lutron, Panasonic and many more.

Get in touch today and talk to one of our experts who can help determine if you’re in scope and what your next steps need to be.

Connected devices MUST comply from April 29th

On April 29^th 2024, the UK will make history as the first country in the world to introduce ground-breaking protections for consumers using connectable devices, from smart phones and games consoles to smart doorbells, connected appliances and home systems.  

The regulatory regime, introduced through the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act (PSTI) 2022 and the PSTI Regulations 2023, will position the UK as the global pioneer in enforcing new minimum cyber security standards, signalling a substantial leap forward in consumer protection.

The Act and Regulations introduce a raft of new, common-sense protections like eliminating universal and easily guessable default passwords, providing a way to report issues to the manufacturers and ensuring manufacturers are transparent about how long a product will receive security updates.  Manufacturers, retailers and importers of smart devices must now ensure they comply with the law and all products must carry a ‘Statement of Compliance’ at all stages of the supply chain.

Unsure if your company or your products are in scope? Need help from the experts to guarantee your compliance and continued access to the UK market? Want to avoid a £10m penalty (or 4% of global turnover whichever is greater) if you aren’t compliant after April 29^th? Get in touch today and we can help immediately with a free call with one of our dedicated experts.

New draft RED standards through the first review phase

SafeShark has been taking part in the latest standards development work in CEN/CENELEC, preparing for the introduction of the RED cyber security requirements in Aug 2025.

Three new standards have been developed EN 18031-1, -2, -3 which cover:

Part 1 common security requirements for internet connected radio equipment;
Part 2 internet connected radio equipment that processes personal, traffic, or location data, as well as products for childcare, toys, and wearables; and
Part 3 internet connected radio equipment that enables the holder or user to transfer money, monetary value or virtual currency.

The first review involved national administrations e.g. BSI in the UK, reviewing the drafts and submitting comments. The comments are now being triaged and responded to before a second round of review.

Through our involvement in the work SafeShark is ensuring that its customers will have plenty of notice as to how they can prepare for the RED requirements.

Recording: DSIT and OPSS enforcement update

In this SafeShark webinar with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), and the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) - the enforcement authority responsible for ensuring compliance with the PSTI regulations on behalf of DSIT - we asked those responsible for shaping the legislation, driving device safety and enforcing compliance to answer your questions.

Watch the recording of this insightful and lively session below.

The government-mandated deadline for compliance is April 29th 2024, with potential enforcement action including fines for those that fail to act set at £10million or 4% of global turnover – whichever is greater.

So, if you manufacture a consumer device that connects to the internet, or to other devices that connect to the internet (both wired and wireless), you need to act now. And SafeShark is here to help.

‘Smart’ is a major driver for those looking to move

A survey, carried out by Samsung, of 1,000 adults looking to move home in the next five years, combined with Google search trends analysis between March 2022 and March 2023, has shown that Smart is a key criteria for those looking for their next home.

A third of respondents would be much more likely to buy or rent a smart home (and pay up to 6.5% more for one) with a further third saying they would look to retrofit smart technology afterwards. A huge 86% said that ‘smart’ would be a consideration when selecting their next property.

The boom in demand and proliferation of devices and systems is, in part, what has driven the introduction of the Product Security and Telecommunications Bill by UK Government.

The legislation affects every single connectable device on the UK market and the deadline for compliance has now been confirmed as April 29th 2024.

Failure to comply with the requirements could result in products not being able to access the UK market and/or fines impacting global turnover.

This is in addition to EU market access requirements which are coming in from the 1st of August 2024 via the Radio Equipment Directive (RED).

SafeShark’s testing and certification service provides an efficient and trusted one-stop route to compliance for both the UK and EU markets.

We have worked with NCSC and UK Government since the outset of the Secure By Design initiative and throughout the legislative process, are active in standards bodies writing the requirements that underpins the legislation – ETSI EN 303 645 and trusted by major brands such as LG who have certified their TV platforms via SafeShark.

To find out more and start your compliance get in touch today.

Compliance deadline announced

Following the introduction of the Product Security and Telecommunications Bill last December, the UK Government has now set a date for when new cyber security regulations will apply to connectable products.

Businesses involved in the supply chains of connectable will need to be compliant with the new regime from the 29th April 2024. Failure to comply with the requirements could result in products not being able to access the UK market and/or fines impacting global turnover.

This is in addition to EU market access requirements which are coming in from the 1st of August 2024 via the Radio Equipment Directive (RED).

SafeShark’s testing and certification service backed by the British Standards Institute (BSI) provides a complete one-stop route to compliance for both the UK and EU markets.

SafeShark has been working with NCSC and UK Government since the outset of the Secure By Design initiative and is also active in standards bodies writing the requirements that underpins the legislation – ETSI EN 303 645.

We are trusted by major brands such as LG who have certified their TV platforms via SafeShark. To find out more and start your compliance get in touch today.

Full details on the UK requirements can be read here.

Three quarters of connected device manufacturers will be non-compliant

New research published today shows that the majority (73%) of IoT and connected device manufacturers would not be compliant with the imminent requirements of the Product Security and Telecoms Infrastructure bill. In fact, only just over one in four can rest easy knowing they will meet the initial bar. Read more here and get in touch if you want to move from non-compliant to competitive edge…