Chris Steck

GlobalPlatform has hailed its 20th year as a strategic milestone in its mission to create collaborative and open ecosystems in which stakeholders can efficiently deliver innovative digital services, while providing greater security, privacy, simplicity and convenience for users. Kevin Gillick, Executive Director of GlobalPlatform, comments: “Twenty years ago, we set out to create an environment for experts to develop the foundations for innovative digital services and devices. Billions of GlobalPlatform-compliant Secure Elements and Trusted Execution Environments are deployed around the world, protecting devices, data and services for identity, payments, telecoms, and transportation and we are now extending this experience with a comprehensive approach to IoT device security. It is fitting that our anniversary year should be pivotal for the organization and wider industry.” Addressing the needs of the IoT ecosystem The organization also appointed a Strategic Director to accelerate the association’s work on IoT security Building on GlobalPlatform’s previous work to secure the internet of things (IoT), the organization launched IoTopia in October 2019. It proposes a common framework for standardizing the design, certification, deployment and management of IoT devices. IoTopia device security will be testable and meet vertical and geographical market requirements by building upon four foundational pillars: Security by Design; Device Intent; Autonomous, Scalable, Secure Device Onboarding (SDO); and Device Lifecycle Management. The organization also appointed a Strategic Director to accelerate the association’s work on IoT security. Chris Steck, Head of Standardization, IoT & Industries at Cisco, is providing strategic guidance to the Board of Directors on GlobalPlatform’s IoT initiatives, the security requirements of cloud and edge devices and the use of GlobalPlatform technologies to bring trust to the IoT ecosystem. Security Evaluation Standard for IoT Platforms The GlobalPlatform Board has also been monitoring the rapid growth of the secure microcontroller unit (MCU) market. With IoT device manufacturers looking for ever greater security and a range of secure component choices, GlobalPlatform has taken the decision to begin standardization work to support the integration of greater security within IoT MCUs. GlobalPlatform will also support the IoT device security certification ecosystem with the adoption of the Security Evaluation Standard for IoT Platforms (SESIP) methodology. The objective is to build consistency across IoT certification schemes (regional or vertical) to facilitate product evaluation and certificate recognition. The organization will share further updates on these activities later this year. 2020 Board of Directors GlobalPlatform has announced its Board of Directors for fiscal year 2020. Five seats were open and after member voting, the following candidates have each been re-elected to serve a two-year term on the GlobalPlatform Board: Rob Coombs – Arm Stéphanie El Rhomri – FIME Rémi de Fouchier – Gemalto, a Thales company Sebastian Hans – Oracle Olivier Van Nieuwenhuyze – STMicroelectronics Secure, scalable and interoperable way Nils Gerhardt of G+D Mobile Security will continue as Chairman of the Board. Rob Coombs retains his position as Vice Chairman and Stéphanie El Rhomri will continue in her role as Treasurer and Secretary. “Through the expertise and collaboration of our members, board and strategic director, our work will enable the IoT ecosystem to evolve with trust and security at its core and assure that users can manage risk in-line with their needs” adds Kevin. “Our successes wouldn’t be possible without the commitment, vision and expertise of our membership. For 20 years we have solved technical and business challenges to ensure technologies deliver value in a secure, scalable and interoperable way.”

Given the increasing need for internet of things (IoT) device security and trust, GlobalPlatform, the standard for secure digital services and devices, has appointed a Strategic Director with significant expertise in IoT development and deployment. Chris Steck, Head of Standardization, IoT & Industries at Cisco, a full member of GlobalPlatform, will work to accelerate the organization’s work on IoT security. He will provide strategic guidance to the Board of Directors on GlobalPlatform’s IoT initiatives, the security requirements of edge and fog devices, and the use of GlobalPlatform technologies to bring trust to the IoT ecosystem. Ensuring mutual awareness and cooperation GlobalPlatform has a history of successful component and device standardization, which can benefit IoT security"Chris will also assist GlobalPlatform in its ongoing liaison activities with other IoT industry consortia, ensuring mutual awareness and cooperation on the development of open standards and an interoperable technical infrastructure for IoT devices and services. “GlobalPlatform has a long history of successful component and device standardization, which can benefit IoT security,” comments Chris. “The problem of security is just too big for any one company to solve alone. The GlobalPlatform membership is perfectly placed to go beyond simply defining best practice and help the market to actually implement security. I look forward to collaborating with the Board, committees and task forces to further align the strategic direction of the organization with the requirements of the IoT ecosystem.” Defining and executing strategic priorities One of Chris’s first responsibilities is to establish an initiative within the organization to focus on IoT security and trust“The connected device landscape is expanding rapidly but many devices are not secure enough to protect against threats and attacks,” adds Kevin Gillick, Executive Director at GlobalPlatform. “Considering the sensitive nature of the data being gathered and exchanged between many connected devices, the lack of standardized security poses a significant risk. As we accelerate our work to standardize the design, certification, deployment and management of IoT devices, Chris will play a vital role in helping the Board to define and execute its strategic priorities in line with global industry requirements.” One of Chris’s first responsibilities is to establish an initiative within the organization to focus on IoT security and trust.