FIDO Device Onboard (FDO) Certification Program is Launched to Enable Faster, More Secure, Deployments of Edge Nodes and IoT Devices

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.

“Edge nodes and IoT devices are bringing transformative benefits to a whole range of industries but overcoming the security risks that exist today is critical to enable more organizations to take the leap,” said Andrew Shikiar, executive director and CMO of the FIDO Alliance. “The appetite we’ve seen for the FIDO Device Onboard (FDO) standard since we launched last year is a testament to how urgent the business need is to secure the edge in a way that’s quick and cost-effective. Launching the certification program marks another step towards fostering trust in the edge and IoT space and taking mass deployments to the next level.”

FIDO Alliance brings together 250+ of the most influential and innovative companies and government agencies from across the globe to deliver unrivaled security specifications that offer strong security, are free to use and easy to deploy.  The FDO Specification is an important pillar in the expansion of the Alliance’s core vision: to boost global cyber security levels, help eliminate data breaches and enable secure online experiences.

The business benefits of the FIDO Device Onboard (FDO) standard include:

• Simplicity – Businesses no longer have to pay more for the installation and onboarding process than they do for the actual hardware devices themselves. The highly automated FDO process effectively brings ‘plug and play’ to the world of onboarding edge nodes and IoT devices.
• Flexibility – Businesses can choose which cloud or edge platforms they want to onboard devices to at the point of installation (as opposed to when devices are manufactured). A single device SKU can be onboarded to any platform (edge or cloud), thereby greatly simplifying the device supply chain.
• Security – FDO leverages an “zero trust” approach, which means the installer no longer needs – nor has access to – any sensitive infrastructure/access control information.

Developers can view and download the FDO Specification here. Higher levels of security certification are planned for the program in future, and interested parties are encouraged to join the FIDO Alliance and contribute to the evolution of the FDO standard. For more information or help, please contact: certification@fidoalliance.org

FIDO Alliance will be hosting a workshop on FDO on the opening day of its annual Authenticate conference, which takes place October 16-18 in Carlsbad, CA. More information on Authenticate can be found on the event website.