UL offers an assessment of products against UL’s IoT Security Rating to manufacturers and developers based in the Middle East and those who export into the region. The IoT Security Rating provides a security verification and labelling solution for consumer Internet of Things (IoT) products and aims to improve the transparency of security for consumers, assisting them in making conscious and informed purchasing decisions.
The IoT Security Rating categorizes products according to an ascending five-level scale: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. UL’s evaluation process assesses critical security aspects of smart products against common attack methodologies and known IoT vulnerabilities, such as attackers sealing personal data or taking control of devices for various purposes, including DDoS attacks. Upon completion of the assessment, Verified products receive a differentiated UL Verified Mark security label specifying the achieved security level and re-evaluation by UL. This UL Verified Mark can be used on products, packaging, marketing and in retail environments, serving as a competitive differentiator for manufacturer’s products.
Arif Hassan, strategic accounts manager at UL, explained how UL’s IoT Security Rating System helps manufacturers, developers and consumers: “We support manufacturers by helping them demonstrate their products meet the threshold of reasonable security features required by countries throughout the Middle East and recommended in global IoT guidelines. The UL Verified Mark security label also empowers consumers, providing them with the information they need regarding security so they can make well-informed buying decisions when purchasing connected products.”
As part of UL’s IoT Security Rating, UL technical experts assess products according to the products’ implementation of vital baseline security capabilities, which are aligned with global industry frameworks and best practices.
In 2020, GE Appliances became the world’s first household appliance brand to test its connected products against UL’s IoT Security Rating assessment and achieve the Gold level IoT Security Rating.
Hassan said: “When consumers buy a connected product in a store or online, the assumption is that the product is secure. However, in reality, that is often not the case. The UL Verified Mark applied to products after completion of the IoT Security Rating helps consumers determine whether the smart product they want to buy meets the developer’s claims and the customer’s expectations. They can be confident the products have been evaluated and assessed against common attack methodologies and known IoT vulnerabilities, empowering them to make their homes more secure.”
The IoT Security Rating further expands UL’s IoT security solutions, including the UL Cybersecurity Assurance Program, IEC 62443 certification and security training and advisory services, that address security needs across IoT industries and ecosystems.