Athira Sethu
Kochi, 9 January 2025
This week, the White House announced a new label for internet-connected devices called the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark. The purpose of this new label is to help consumers in choosing products that are safer and more secure for protecting their data online.
The U.S. Cyber Trust Mark will be awarded to the products that qualify specific cybersecurity tests. These are tests based on standards set up by the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology, also known as NIST. Carried out in accredited labs, the tests will confirm that the product complies with the security requirements.
Products that can attain such a label can range from baby monitors to smart home security systems and other internet-connected gadgets. Sooner or later, they will be getting easier for people to know which products are safe to use in their homes.
Companies now have to demonstrate that their products are secure and protect the user against all online threats to be eligible for the Cyber Trust Mark. Therefore, this new badge will also increase people’s confidence when purchasing smart devices since the product meets security guidelines.
The Cyber Trust Mark was developed after nearly two years of public discussions and feedback. The setup of the program was largely facilitated by the Federal Communications Commission, or the FCC for short. In late 2024, the FCC finally approved the final rules for the label and made it official.
This is part of an increasing effort to make the internet safer for all, ensuring that smart devices are built with good security features.
