IIC & TIoTA Collaborate to Strengthen IoT Security and Blockchain Standards

The groups plan to address IoT security challenges and provide pathways to innovation and smarter, safer digital adoption.

There’s good news for organizations hesitant to take the digital transformation leap in IoT because of security. The Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) and the Trusted IoT Alliance (TIoTA) are combining memberships, hoping to bring greater trustability to the world of IoT.

For many companies, full digital transformation is difficult enough; adopting blockchain technologies is not even a thought. As these technologies become more feasible, it’s not a question of “if” but “when” the digital transformation with blockchain will happen.

See also: IoT Security Remains a Top Concern

These industry goals are the driving force behind IIC and TIoTA combining forces. According to their release, the primary goal is to foster collaboration within the space, promoting open systems, better research, and best practices for trusted IoT systems.

The organizations are in a position to drive real change due to the expertise each group brings to the table.

The IIC is the world’s leading membership organization advancing the goals and adoption of safe, reliable IoT. It’s a project of Open Management Group and seeks to realize a world with a transformational connection through secure and controlled systems and devices.

TIoTA is a collaboration of passionate technologists eager to see full, yet secure, adoption of IoT best practices through the blockchain. By leveraging this latest innovation, TIoTA believes that the data produced through these technologies can be decentralized, interoperable, and transformative, all while preserving security and privacy.

Partnership Goals

Blockchain use cases have grown in IoT, providing the type of security companies have longed for within the field. This collaboration will provide industries with a one-stop-shop for all sources of trusted IoT, paving the way for more efficient digital transformation.

The primary goals for the merger will be principles of interoperability, portability, and, most importantly, security and privacy. The two organizations have outlined joint endeavors that could include:

• providing quick identification of best practices and sharing strategically and openly.
• facilitation interoperability by harmonizing seemingly disparate architectures.
• working towards standardization across the entire industry.
• hosting meetings for collaboration and discussion plus potential workshops.
• co-organizing IoT challenges to drive innovation within a real-world context.

The two organizations want to bring forward-thinking designers and researchers together with real-world participants, better blending the advancement of technology with business needs. The formal liaison will better enable both organizations to work towards the industry’s shared goals within digital transformation and help to assuage concerns.

Current Projects – Open Call

There are already two new design challenges happening intended to address just these concerns. The Smart Buildings Challenge will leverage best innovation practices to address operational concerns within physical buildings, giving smart building tech suppliers the chance to collaborate with customers. The Smart Logistics Challenge addresses the growing need for better sensors for real value-add to the fractured logistics industry.

Both challenges are currently issuing calls to both technology providers and partners with the pain point addressed. This is just the first in a long series of challenges and activities designed to provide pathways to innovation and smarter, safer digital adoption.