FIDO Device Onboard (FDO) Certification Program is Launched27 Sep 2023 09:28
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The FIDO Alliance's FIDO Device Onboard (FDO) technology allows edge and IoT users to quickly and securely onboard devices, thereby reducing cost, time and risk. Today the FIDO Alliance announced the launch of its FIDO Device Onboard (FDO) Certification Program, enabling edge node and IoT device vendors to prove that their solutions adhere to the security and interoperability requirements of the FDO specifications. Achieving certification allows vendors to demonstrate their products are high quality and at low risk of cyberthreats, while deploying companies can ensure devices will interoperate more seamlessly and securely within IoT and distributed computing infrastructures.
Leading vendors around the world, including Dell Technologies, IBM, Intel, Red Hat and VinCSS have already begun to include the FDO specification in products and services, which are being utilized by customers in a variety of settings and applications. [Media note: see quotes from FDO vendors at end of press release].
According to Markets and Markets in their June 2023 report, the "Edge Computing Market size is expected to grow from $53.6 billion in 2023 to $111.3 billion by 2028."(1) They go on to say that "despite the benefits, the edge computing architecture is susceptible to cyberattacks with the addition of vulnerable edge nodes and IoT devices." The FIDO Alliance's FDO technology has been specifically defined by leaders including Intel, Google, Microsoft, Qualcomm and ARM to address these concerns so that users in areas such as enterprise and industrial can fully take advantage of edge computing opportunities.
The FDO protocol is a freely available standard that champions a 'zero trust' approach to remove these barriers, enabling devices to quickly and securely onboard to cloud and edge management platforms. As a Dell Technologies white paper explained, "The installation of these systems must prioritize simplicity and must be zero-touch once plugged in and powered on. Secure operations require the ability to bring edge devices into your environment with zero touch in mind."(2)
FDO Certification, testing for which will take place in early October provides conformance and interop testing, a security risk analysis, and assurance that a company's device meets FDO Specification and Security and Privacy Requirements. Certification testing builds trust among device owners, as devices are validated as meeting a high level of security by a third-party. Companies interested in taking part in the FDO Certification interop test can register for free and get more information here.