s e e k i n g
BY GA RY A R L E N
T
he new "Internet of Things
Security Baseline" plan shows
what can be done by a publicprivate collaboration facing an
urgent global problem - cybersecurity intrusions that affect all
aspects of technology, including
power and public utility facilities, personal health monitors and smart home/smart car capabilities.
One word keeps emerging from industry and government experts working on the problems: "Alignment."
Standards makers and regulators emphasize their objectives to "align" policies and principles so that security solutions work effectively across many platforms and devices.
The C2 ("Convene the Conveners") group of nearly two
dozen industry organizations recently issued its C2
Consensus on IoT Device Security Baseline Capabilities
report, aligned with the work of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) and other government
agencies. NIST leads a federal task force (which also
draws on private sector expertise) to establish a baseline
for assuring cybersecurity in IoT devices.
The C2 draft acknowledges that many efforts and
many standards are emerging as global industry groups
and regulators grapple with the new challenges of digital evildoers. The report says the multiplicity of technical experts' "well-thought-out and effective
BY GARY ARLEN
i3_0919_20-23_FEATURE_Cybersecurity.indd 20
9/10/19 1:17 PM