European consortium aims to improve IoT security, interoperability

International: A European consortium is to begin working on Brain-IoT, a framework to improve the interoperability and security of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Actuation and control are among areas of concern.

By Rene Millman, Vinelake July 15, 2018

In an effort to improve the interoperability and security of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, a new European consortium is to begin working on a framework called Brain-IoT. The consortium includes 12 industry and academic partners from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the U.K., including Airbus CyberSecurity, Siemens AG, and service robotics company, Robotnik.

The consortium is headed by Istituto Superiore Mario Boella (ISMB) in Italy, and co-funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 program, with a budget of €5 million [$5.783 million].

Brain-IoT aims to establish a framework and methodology that supports IoT platforms, offering model-based tools to aid the development of integrated solutions for interoperability, and cybersecurity. The consortium also aims to embed security control features and greater security awareness in IoT systems, especially in scenarios such as critical infrastructure management. The development of modular AI systems that can be deployed across networks of standardized IoT devices will be a core focus of the project, especially in edge and hybrid cloud environments. 

Brain-IoT perspectives

Airbus CyberSecurity is among those providing expertise and technologies to the framework with a focus on secure IoT devices and service provision. The objective, said the company, is to create a state-of-the-art security layer and lightweight mechanisms for trusted systems. Airbus explained that the resulting solutions will apply equally to simple devices, such as sensors, and more complex equipment, such as smartphones.

Steven Rymell, head of technology for Airbus Cybersecurity, said developing the framework represents an "opportunity for us to contribute to the most important security topic facing our generation. When it comes to the IoT, it’s necessary to address tomorrow’s safety and security issues today." 

Actuation, control in Brain-IoT

The Brain-IoT project held a kick-off meeting earlier this year to focus on complex scenarios where actuation and control are cooperatively supported by populations of heterogeneous IoT systems. The meeting looked at how Brain-IoT will establish the principle that future IoT applications should never be supported by one unique, irreplaceable IoT platform. Rather, services should exist within a federated or evolving environment using current industry standards and be capable of adapting to future developments.

Rene Millman is an author with Internet of Business, a Control Engineering content partner. Edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager, Control Engineering, CFE Media, mhoske@cfemedia.com.

KEYWORDS: IoT, cybersecurity, interoperability

A European consortium is working on Brain-IoT, a framework to improve the interoperability and security of Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Brain-IoT participants include Airbus CyberSecurity, Siemens AG, Robotnik, and academic partners.

IoT flexibility with standards is favored over using one platform.

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