The Internet of Things (IoT) has evolved from a visionary concept into a global reality. With over 38 billion connected devices projected by 20301, the IoT ecosystem has expanded into nearly every sector—healthcare, energy, automotive, logistics, and consumer tech. This interconnected future offers remarkable benefits in efficiency, automation, and data-driven decision-making. Yet it also raises unprecedented cybersecurity challenges.
In today’s age of exponential device growth and digital modernization, trust in device connectivity is very important. Security can no longer be a secondary consideration; It must be embedded into the core of device design, manufacturing, and provisioning processes. Certification—particularly in the context of emerging technologies like eSIM and embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Cards (eUICC)—is proving to be an essential mechanism for ensuring that trust.
The Role of Certification in the Modern IoT Landscape
As IoT becomes further entrenched in critical infrastructure and daily life, the locations of cyber-attacks grow in both scale and complexity. Devices are no longer isolated endpoints—they are interconnected components in dynamic, real-time networks. This complexity makes them harder to secure, and vulnerabilities in even the smallest sensor can ripple across larger systems with severe consequences.
Security certification frameworks help address these risks by offering structured validation that devices and their embedded connectivity modules comply with robust technical and cryptographic standards. Rather than relying solely on vendor claims, certification provides third-party assurance that security expectations are met—before threats emerge.
In the case of eSIM and eUICC, certification validates the secure storage of credentials, secure remote provisioning, and tamper resistance. It also ensures that devices can safely switch network profiles across mobile operators worldwide. These assurances are foundational to reducing long-term operational risks and protecting data integrity across the device lifecycle.
Why Early Certification Matters
The acceleration of standards such as SGP.32—a recent Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) specification for IoT remote SIM provisioning—marks a watershed moment in IoT security and scalability. However, achieving compliance with these standards requires more than technical capability; it demands early planning, alignment with testing bodies, and a willingness to evolve with the ecosystem.
Early certification allows device manufacturers, SIM vendors, and operating system providers to implement secure protocols before market launch. This improves time to market and also reduces the cost and complexity of post-launch security retrofits. In fact, leading organizations that pursue dual certifications—spanning both security assurance and GRC (governance, risk, and compliance) standards—are better positioned to manage today’s complex regulatory landscape. As businesses expand internationally, staying aligned with local and cross-border regulations often requires dedicated teams to monitor and implement compliance protocols2.
Importantly, these certifications are not handed down from regulatory bodies in isolation. They are the product of close collaboration between industry leaders, standards organizations, and security experts. This consensus-driven approach ensures that security frameworks are technically aligned with real-world deployment challenges, helping to drive broader ecosystem readiness.
Secure at Birth: The Power of In-Factory Provisioning
One of the most promising outcomes of standardized certification is the enablement of In-Factory Profile Provisioning (IFPP). This approach allows a secure digital identity to be embedded directly into a device during manufacturing, effectively making it “secure at birth.”
This model has multiple advantages. For one, it eliminates the need to ship devices with preloaded regional SIMs or provision profiles in the field, which can introduce security gaps. Instead, a universal device SKU can be produced and provisioned remotely with a local operator profile when deployed—streamlining production and improving logistics flexibility.
This also mitigates security risks by reducing the number of device variants in the field. Fewer SKUs mean fewer opportunities for configuration errors, firmware inconsistencies, or overlooked vulnerabilities—all common pain points in large-scale deployments.
Moreover, recent improvements in testing methodologies have shortened certification timelines dramatically, in some cases to under eight weeks. This increased speed reflects both the maturity of the underlying standards and the urgency of securing the IoT landscape at scale.
Long-Term Benefits of a Certified, Standards-Based Ecosystem
The benefits of pursuing certification for eSIM-based IoT devices extend well beyond regulatory compliance. Certification represents a strategic investment in resilience, flexibility, and global interoperability—key pillars for long-term success in the evolving IoT environment.
First and foremost, certified devices are designed with robust defenses against a wide array of cyber threats. From physical tampering to remote exploitation, they are built to maintain the integrity of sensitive data and credentials. Embedding this level of security from the outset minimizes long-term exposure and significantly reduces the costs associated with incident response and system recovery.
Additionally, organizations benefit from improved business continuity. Certified eSIM and remote provisioning frameworks allow devices to seamlessly switch profiles and connect to alternative networks. This capability supports uninterrupted service delivery, even in the face of localized network outages or geopolitical disruptions.
Global operability is another major advantage. Devices that adhere to internationally recognized certification standards are inherently more interoperable, capable of functioning across different countries and carrier networks without the need for region-specific adaptations. This facilitates global scalability and accelerates time to market.
From a regulatory standpoint, certified hardware and software solutions provide a clear path toward compliance with privacy laws, critical infrastructure protections, and cross-border data handling mandates. Certification signals to regulators and partners alike that an organization has taken proactive measures to secure its products.
Last, but certainly not least, the operational benefits are significant. Certified devices typically experience fewer vulnerabilities post-deployment, reducing the frequency of security patches and emergency updates. This leads to lower total cost of ownership, more predictable maintenance schedules, and fewer disruptions to service.
Preparing for the Next Phase of Digital Transformation
As edge computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning become more tightly integrated into IoT applications, the importance of a secure foundation cannot be overstated. Cybersecurity will no longer be about locking down endpoints—it will be about protecting real-time, autonomous decision-making processes powered by billions of constantly communicating devices.
Industries ranging from smart healthcare to industrial automation rely on the integrity of their connectivity layers. Without certified assurance, these systems risk becoming vectors for attack instead of engines of innovation.
Now is the time for businesses to evaluate their connectivity and provisioning strategies through the lens of security certification. By aligning with globally recognized standards and engaging early with certification frameworks, organizations can foster trust across their ecosystems and scale confidently into the future.
As the IoT ecosystem matures, stakeholders must embrace certification not just as a technical requirement but as a strategic differentiator. In doing so, they’ll help build a safer, smarter, and more secure digital future.
1: https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/research/iot-connections-forecast-to-2030
2: https://www.cio.com/article/242680/the-top-6-governance-risk-and-compliance-certifications.html
About the Author
Sönke Schröder is Director Go-To-Market Strategy and Innovation at Giesecke+Devrient (G+D), a global SecurityTech company located in Munich, Germany, with a global workforce of more than 14,000 employees. G+D makes the lives of billions of people more secure with built-in security tech in three segments: Digital Security, Financial Platforms and Currency Technology.
Sönke is an expert in the world of Connectivity and IoT with over 23 years of hands-on experience with Giesecke+Devrient and a highly technical educational background in physics having attended both the University of Hamburg and the Technical University of Munich. You can reach Sönke online at [email protected] and at our company website, https://www.gi-de.com.
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