
For decades, experts have been forecasting the rise of the IoT. Twenty years ago, the CEO of NetSilicon predicted that the “Internet would become more of a network of devices and gadgets than a means of connecting people.”
Today, with more than 15 billion connected IoT devices worldwide, IoT use cases are everywhere. We’re seeing innovative applications in homes, offices, industrial environments, health care facilities, transportation and everywhere in between. But as the IoT extends into every aspect of our lives, interoperability is more important than ever—especially for managing and securing all these devices.
Common Ground for IoT Devices
As the world becomes more interconnected, businesses and consumers will expect more interoperability between their devices to provide the best experience, robust security and the best outcomes.
For example, a typical health care environment is often packed with devices and sensors, from infusion pumps and blood pressure monitors to EMR workstations and smart beds. Each device is constantly collecting and generating data on its own. Without a unified console to manage and view them, the flood of data and alerts can quickly overwhelm health care providers.
Transportation use cases like electric vehicle (EV) charging pose their own distinct challenges. As more people adopt EVs, we’re seeing an increased need for public charging stations and other infrastructure to support them. With multiple manufacturers for vehicles and charging facilities, as well as disparate authentication and payment systems, providing a convenient, seamless experience for drivers isn’t easy.
For today’s diverse IoT environments, the need for interoperability, as well as digital trust, within ecosystems is critical.
New Priorities for Manufacturers
The benefits of interoperability are clear, but interoperability doesn’t just happen spontaneously. It comes when organizations within an industry get together, see its potential benefits, and take action to achieve it.
For example, health care leaders Medtronic and Abbott recently partnered to connect Abbott’s continuous glucose monitoring system with Medtronic insulin delivery devices. The agreement not only enhances interoperability but security, and Abbott is extending the partnership to other device manufacturers as well.
Industry standards can play an important role as a catalyst for improving interoperability. Over 600 organizations participate in the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). This industry group supports the Matter open-source standard for connectivity of IoT and smart home devices.
Working together, they are forging a path forward to enable component manufacturers and OEMs to offer better interoperability, reliability and security. Adopted by leaders like Apple, Amazon and Google, Matter’s rapid success has inspired growth beyond home devices. Version 1.2 introduced support for additional home appliances, and participants are also discussing health care and public sector applications.
In the EV charging arena, the ISO 15118 standard has established support for secure information exchange between energy distribution systems, payment systems, software for vehicles and their drivers’ devices and vehicle identity authentication. The standard helps ensure that drivers not only experience convenience at the charging station but a transaction that’s secure.
Digital Trust Through PKI is Foundational
As industry leaders come together to develop common standards, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is playing an essential role in ensuring digital trust. For the Matter standard, PKI establishes a common identifier so that when devices connect, they can then enjoy seamless, trusted authentication, which facilitates interoperability.
In EV charging environments, PKI is used to set up a secure connection between charging stations and vehicles. At the moment an EV plugs in, a two-way authentication process automatically verifies the vehicle, charger and other devices involved in the transaction.
SAE International is working to create interoperable PKI marketplace that can facilitate secure, bi-directional charging on a global scale, and the ISO 15118 standard operates within a PKI ecosystem. Another standard, ISO 15118-2, addresses scaling issues and interoperability needed to support the large volume of certificates needed for EV charging.
DigiCert has also established EV charging industry’s first unaffiliated root of trust. This is enabling manufacturers like Ford, BMW and Mercedes to issue, test and deploy certificates that comply with ISO 15118-2.
Strong Standards Build Their Own Momentum
Like the rising tide that lifts all boats, strong standards can enable additional IoT use cases to gain additional traction in the marketplace. For example, after success in home environments, Matter is now expanding into the commercial office space, becoming applicable for HVAC, elevators and other smart devices that need interoperability.
According to Fortune Business Insights, the global IoT market size is projected to grow from $714.48 billion in 2024 to $4,062.34 billion by 2032— a CAGR of 24.3% during the forecast period. To fully unlock this potential, IoT manufacturers should take proactive steps to drive standards-based interoperability and digital trust.
With a collaborative approach, manufacturers can spark improved innovation, provide better experiences for consumers, and capture new opportunities for growth and profitability.