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WISeKey disclosed WISeKeyIoT, its Public Key Infrastructure framework tailored for the Internet of Things

Geneva, Switzerland; April 24, 2017 – WISeKey International Holding (SIX: WIHN), a leading Swiss cybersecurity and IoT company, unveiled today its global solution for securing the Internet of Things (IoT).

The solution, called WISeKeyIoT is a scalable framework, offering digital Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificates for connected devices, protected in certified tamper resistant silicon chips, as well as an outsourced or on-premises certificate management system, with device life cycle control functions and security enforcement entities. The digital PKI certificates can be signed by the publicly trusted root, owned by OISTE (https://oiste.org/) and operated by WISeKey.

“We are the only company able to combine in-house expertise in certificate distribution and management with our certified tamper resistance semiconductor technology, and offer a global security framework for the IoT. This technology offers a really seamless solution for the most cost effective integration of security in devices and back end systems,” said Bernard Vian, General Manager of WISeKey Semiconductors.

The IoT is a very promising new business segment for WISeKey, with an estimated 50 billion devices are expected to be connected by 2020, while world’s population is estimated to grow to 6.8 billion; thus, there will be more than 7 devices per person connected to the internet by 2020. As a result, a huge and increasing amount of data will be interchanged between connected devices and back-end servers, allowing companies to provide users with new type of exciting applications, which will be designed to offer increased control over the use of resources: improve efficiency in power grids, optimize processing of information in industrial environments, provide better and higher quality healthcare services and personalized experience for shopping or leisure, among others.

This is only possible though, if the data can be trusted. The IoT business case will collapse if over time hackers get access to devices, change the way they operate, intercept and modify data, or bring down systems by executing Distributed Denial of Service attacks through the devices on a network.

It is therefore crucial to implement security features in the system from scratch. Not only in the back-end system, using the PKI technologies proposed by the framework WISeKeyIoT, but as well as in the otherwise vulnerable connected objects in the field, made secure through the tamper resistant chip technology, all part of the WISeKey framework.

“It all starts with the billions of devices currently accessible to everyone, either through the internet or physically, and therefore comprehensive solutions need to be implemented to protect and authenticate these devices. Currently, there is a huge number of malware currently invading the internet, which can easily hack personal computers due to lack of and/or low security, including poor passwords. As billions of new devices continue to connect to the IoT each year, many continue to remain unprotected, which provide hackers with an opportunity to easily hack personal and corporate data. The best defense against hacking is a tamper resistant chip installed on each device, on which we can build a global trust structure, leading to a publicly available certification of the authenticity for each device and the data it handles. With WISeKeyIoT, we not only offer the system and components needed to build a secure IoT, but as well as the expertise and flexibility needed to help our customers to integrate the right security solution in the vast variety of the IoT landscape. This a truly unique position on the market,” said Benoit Makowka, Vice President and head of the IoT business line of WISeKey.

WISeKeyIoT, the most comprehensive security framework will be shown at the Hannover Messe 2017, the world’s largest industrial fair, from April 24 to 28 in Hannover, Germany. WISeKey’s booth will be located: Hall8, Stand F21 (for more information please visit: goo.gl/TJMIyz)

About WISeKey

WISeKey (SIX Swiss Exchange: WIHN) is a leading global cybersecurity company currently deploying large scale digital identity ecosystems with a patented process. WISeKey’s Swiss based cryptographic Root of Trust (“RoT”) provides secure authentication and identification, in both physical and virtual environments, for the Internet of Things, Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence. The WISeKey RoT serves as a common trust anchor to ensure the integrity of online transactions among objects and between objects and people. For more information, visit www.wisekey.com.

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For further information, please contact:

WISeKey
Youmna Abisaleh

Marketing Communications
Tel: +41 22 594 3000
info@wisekey.com
Investor Relations (United States)
Lena Cati
The Equity Group, Inc.
Tel: +1 212 836-9611
lcati@equityny.com
 
 


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This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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the future performance of WISeKey.