Comodo Unveils New IoT PKI Platform, Partner Program

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Comodo has launched a new public key infrastructure (PKI) platform for Internet of Things (IoT) devices and networks, and a coinciding partner program.

Comodo’s Damon Kachur

The Comodo IoT Security Platform will allow device manufacturers and network providers to issue and manage PKI and SSL certificates for private ecosystems. The company is expanding the traditional use of PKI to offer an automated platform that will allow PKI certificates to be managed throughout the entire life cycle at volumes that can increase to the level required for the IoT market.

Damon Kachur, Comodo’s head of IoT solutions, tells Channel Partners his company is looking for multiple types of partnerships. The first are technology partnerships to build the service offering around all of the various security requirements for IoT device manufacturers, service providers and enterprise IoT, he said.

“Second, we want to partner with the embedded world to offer security from the beginning,” he said. “By working along with the silicon manufacturers and SIM manufacturers, Comodo is going directly to the secure element to install the beginning of a complete security life-cycle management for the device. Finally, Comodo wants to partner with the standard bodies, global alliances and ecosystems that power the connected world. Without standards and acceptance of those standards by vendors, the security, interoperability and the overall safety of devices and ecosystems will be in jeopardy of a security attack. Being a member of these (standards) organizations allows Comodo to assist, guide and recommend security solutions for all IoT devices and networks.”

Comodo currently is working with several ecosystems involving the aviation sector and hospital/medical device community, Kachur said.

“The new program allows for security certificates to be revoked and replaced over-the-air on remote devices; furthermore, Comodo will be able to scan IoT devices for viruses and malware through content delivery networks, allowing for billions of devices to be scanned and routed back to their ultimate network destination,” he said. “This type of technology is introducing Comodo to opportunities from low power wide area (LPWA) devices to highly secure critical infrastructure devices and networks.”

IoT is a large part of Comodo’s channel strategy, Kachur said.

“We have been successful for many years with SSL and our trusted partner programs,” he said. “Looking at IoT, we need technology partners and business partners to not only offer the required IoT services, but we also need to make those IoT security services available to customers in a way that is easy for them to consume. Comodo and our partners will bring affordable IoT security solutions to all IoT markets.”