NIST gears up for software security and IoT labeling…

Intended to help consumers make more secure software and IoT device purchases, the labeling guidelines are voluntary and self-policing at this time.

President Biden’s wide-ranging cybersecurity executive order issued last May directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to create pilot labeling programs to educate the public on the security of the internet-of-things (IoT) devices and software products they buy. The order requires NIST to produce by February 6, 2022, IoT cybersecurity criteria for a consumer labeling program and, separately, identify secure software development practices or criteria for a software labeling program.

To those ends, NIST held a workshop in September and solicited comments from stakeholders and experts. Based on the input received in these efforts and after issuing preliminary draft papers that outline various approaches, NIST issued draft Baseline Criteria for Consumer Software Cybersecurity Labeling on November 1 and a discussion draft on Consumer Cybersecurity Labeling for IoT Products on December 3.

After NIST produces both the IoT and software criteria in February, it will begin a labeling pilot testing phase. That phase will consist of NIST engaging with organizations that currently offer consumer labeling options. NIST says it may also decide to establish measures to demonstrate further proof of concept based on the criteria it publishes.

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