Expert Guidance and Strategies in the Realm of IoT, as Outlined by Thales
Thales, a global technology leader, recently emerged victorious at the Future Digital Awards, taking home the Smart Cities & IoT Innovation Awards 2024. Following the win, Thales shared key insights and best practices on IoT connectivity and security, emphasising the importance of reinventing IoT security through leadership in eSIM technology, a multi-layered security approach, regulatory compliance, and trusted digital identities.
eSIM and iSIM Leadership as a Security Moat
Thales highlighted the critical role of embedded SIM (eSIM) and integrated SIM (iSIM) in securing IoT connectivity. These technologies provide a secure hardware root-of-trust and enable over-the-air provisioning and lifecycle management of IoT devices, significantly reducing vulnerabilities in device authentication and connectivity management. With Juniper Research estimating a 700% increase to 1.3 billion eSIM connections by 2028, the strategic importance of eSIM/iSIM technology in scalable, secure IoT deployments is evident.
Aligning with Regulatory Requirements
Thales actively ensures their IoT solutions comply with emerging global security regulations, such as the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act effective in 2025. Their compliance certifications (SGP.32/33) position their products as pre-vetted for stringent security benchmarks. This regulatory alignment helps reduce fragmentation and boosts trust among enterprises and governments adopting IoT systems.
Security-by-Design and Multi-Layered Security
Recognising the complexity and heterogeneity of IoT environments, Thales advocates for a comprehensive layered security approach that protects devices, data, networks, and cloud services. This includes encryption of communications, segmented access controls, continuous monitoring, multi-factor authentication, and proactive threat detection. Such an approach mitigates risks from malware (e.g., Mirai) and ensures device and data integrity, essential for critical smart city applications and industries like rail transportation.
Trusted Digital Identities and Biometrics
To handle billions of digital interactions securely, Thales invests in trusted digital identity solutions and responsible biometrics (e.g., their TrUE Biometrics technology). These enhance authentication and trust for both people and things, enabling secure access to digital services and reducing identity-related vulnerabilities in IoT ecosystems.
Operational Efficiency and Secure Key Management
In critical infrastructure such as next-generation railways, Thales promotes secure communications using Online Key Management Systems (OKMS) to automate secure key issuance and management, minimising human error and enhancing trust. This technology protects data integrity for automated control and signalling systems, highlighting best practices for tightly secured operational environments.
Sustainable and Responsible Connectivity
Thales also underscores sustainable growth with impact assessments and eco-design in mobile connectivity, reflecting best practices in balancing security with environmental responsibility.
In summary, Thales’ best practices for IoT connectivity and security focus on leveraging advanced eSIM/iSIM technologies, ensuring compliance with emerging regulations, implementing multi-layer cybersecurity strategies, deploying trusted digital identities, and maintaining robust key and communications management in critical infrastructures. These insights reflect a holistic and forward-looking approach to securing IoT as it scales rapidly in smart cities and broader industrial contexts.
The interviews were conducted after the Smart Cities & IoT Innovation Awards 2024, with Stephane Quetglas, the Marketing Director at Thales Cyber security and Digital Identity, being one of the interviewees. Thales provides seamless integration with various connectivity providers for IoT deployments and offers flexible eSIM products for efficient management of large-scale IoT networks. Regulatory impacts like the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) and the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) are expected to reshape IoT security approaches according to Thales.
Real-world applications of Thales' solutions include eCall in the automotive industry, smart metering, and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) for 5G home broadband. Thales was interviewed twice for exclusive interviews, and the discussions covered cutting-edge insights and best practices in IoT connectivity and security. As Thales continues to shape the future of IoT innovation, their focus on security and compliance is set to play a crucial role in the industry's development.
- Leveraging eSIM and iSIM leadership in security, Thales emphasized their role in securing IoT connectivity by providing a secure hardware root-of-trust and enabling over-the-air provisioning and lifecycle management of devices, thereby reducing vulnerabilities in device authentication and connectivity management.
- To ensure regulatory compliance, Thales actively aligns its IoT solutions with emerging global security regulations, such as the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act, holding crucial importance in reducing fragmentation and boosting trust among enterprises and governments adopting IoT systems.
