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.
SafeShark shortlisted for Most Innovative Cyber SME 2023
We are so excited to have been shortlisted for the UK’s Most Innovative Cyber SME 2023. The award is given by Infosecurity Europe in partnership with The Department of Science, Information and Technology (DSIT) and judged by a panel of cybersecurity experts.
They have selected fourteen of the UK’s most creative and original information security businesses as finalists in the annual hunt for the UK’s Most Innovative Cyber SME… and we’re one of them.
Keep everything crossed for us until the winner is announced at Infosecurity Europe in June!
Consumer concerns over security of connected devices and certification recommended, says report
TechUK’s sixth edition of its ‘State of the Connected Home’ report has been published. It surveys a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults across the UK to ask about their awareness, interest, and ownership of a range of connected or ‘smart’ home products.
Some key findings include:
The market is seeing increased product diversification and consumers have greater interest and confidence in purchasing devices beyond the entertainment domain.
The UK market was worth approximately £4.78 billion in 2021-2, an increase on the previous year despite fewer devices being sold.
Robust sales of smart TVs are a key contributor to both volume and value. Supported by the increasing prevalence of voice recognition in new model ranges, smart TVs account for more than a fifth of market volume (4.4 million units) and nearly half of value (£2.3 billion).
Ownership of smart speakers has increased fivefold in the last five years.
Consumers prioritised ease of use, interoperability, and convenience with interoperability increasingly being cited.
Security concerns was one of the top barriers to adoption/purchase cited by consumers.
The report’s top recommendation was collaboration with industry on industry-led accreditation and certification schemes – specifically citing SafeShark as the go to scheme.
We are beyond thrilled to be joining such an amazing 'Grow' cohort and we can't wait to get started!
Find out more about the scheme here. And don't forget to follow us on Linkedin and Twitter to see more about what we are doing and how we can help your business.
SafeShark selected as finalist in DCMS ‘Most Innovative Cyber SME 2022’ competition
SafeShark has been selected as one of the UK’s 14 most creative and original information security businesses in the UK.
SafeShark, a Joint Venture between DTG Testing and Connect Devices, backed by BSI to provide the leading independent certification for new IoT cybersecurity standards, has been shortlisted in the UK’s Most Innovative Cyber SME 2022 contest, run by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) in partnership with Infosecurity Europe.
As a finalist, SafeShark will have a stand (M96) in the DCMS Cyber Innovation Zone at InfoSecurity Europe 2022 (21-23 June at ExCeL London) where we’ll be demo-ing the SafeShark objective and continuous testing to meet the new upcoming legislative requirements, backed by BSI certification to turn compliance into competitive edge.
This is the seventh year the competition has been run, and is open to micro, small and medium cybersecurity businesses registered in the UK. The overall winner will be announced live on the Innovation Showcase stage at the show. Visitor registration is open here.
Commenting on the news, SafeShark Director and DTG CEO Richard Lindsay-Davies said: “We are delighted that SafeShark has been recognised as one of the most important innovations in the cyber security space. The legislation that is now before Parliament is designed to add a layer of protection for consumers in their own homes. This award underlines that SafeShark goes beyond those mandated requirements to demonstrate to retailers and their consumers that device manufacturers have really gone the extra mile to keep their customers safe.”
Record levels of investment into UK’s cyber security sector
New government data shows that 1,800 UK-registered cyber security firms have generated a total of £10.1bn in revenue in the most recent financial year, a massive 14% increase from the previous financial year. The DCMS Annual Cyber Sector Report, which tracks the growth and performance of the UK cyber security sector, reveals the industry contributed around £5.3bn to the UK economy in 2021, rising from the previous year’s figure of £4bn.
More than £1bn of external investment for these UK cyber security firms was secured across 84 deals. Employment across the industry also grew by 13%, with more than 6,000 new jobs added to the UK’s 50,000-strong cyber workforce.
“Cyber security firms are major contributors to the UK’s incredible tech success story. Hundreds of British firms from Edinburgh to Bristol are developing and selling cutting-edge cyber tools around the world that make it safer for people to live and work online. We are investing in skills training and business initiatives to help the UK go from strength to strength as a global cyber power and open up the sector to people from all walks of life.”
Cyber security requirements for the EU market under discussion
IoT cybersecurity standards for connected products and devices are coming.
SafeShark is active in European activities to scope requirements for new cyber security standards. The new standards will demonstrate cyber security performance of consumer IoT and industrial products so that the products can be placed on the EU market.
The roadmap for this involves European standards bodies ETSI and CEN/CENELEC agreeing the scope of a standards request from the EC, then developing the standards ready for use.
Products compliance deadline for the new standards is currently 30 months from October this year, meaning requirements would come into force around May 2024.
The new requirements will be part of the Radio Equipment Directive which outlines requirements for CE marking.
SafeShark will ensure that any new standards are part of its assurance scheme.
In the meantime assurance against current consumer IoT cyber security standard EN 303 645 will ensure that your product is prepared for these up-coming changes.