BlackBerry aims to secure IoT devices

BlackBerry announced it has signed a technology and brand licensing deal for "BlackBerry Secure" with consumer electronics maker, Punkt Tronics AG.

The new agreement enables Punkt to bring to market a range of security products which will embed BlackBerry cybersecurity technology, be certified as BlackBerry Secure, and be shipped ready to safely and securely connect to home and enterprise networks.

BlackBerry SVP Alex Thurber says, "If 2017 has taught us anything it is that every device needs to be secured because any vulnerability will be found and exploited.

"With cyber security becoming a concern for every household and enterprise, savvy manufacturers like Punkt are recognising the value of protecting the integrity of their innovations and the resonance our brand has with consumers who are increasingly anxious about the security of the products they choose to bring into their homes and lives.

BlackBerry Secure is a secure and comprehensive platform to connect people, devices, processes and systems.

A BlackBerry Secure license provides product manufacturers with an embedded security solution that comprises BlackBerry's proprietary software and applications.

Products built with components from the BlackBerry Secure software platform will have solid security that helps safeguard end-user privacy and protects enterprises from attackers looking to exploit device vulnerabilities.

Even when stripping away all the excess capabilities that unify our digital domain in favour of a "back to basics" approach, a stark reality still remains true, anything with a processor and a wireless connection to a mobile network can provide an entry point to exploit a security vulnerability.

Whether a watch, an alarm clock, a phone, any device left unsecured puts users at risk to be hacked.

Punkt CEO Petter Neby says, "At Punkt, we're focused on using technology to help us adopt good habits for less distracted lives, and we do this with carefully designed and elegantly crafted products.

"By incorporating BlackBerry's security technology into our premium products, we can now offer customers the highest level of security, without compromising on the simple, modern design they love."