GMO CLOUD, GMO GlobalSign and Atte of O-film group in China have started a joint R&D
to automatically distribute electronic certificates to IoT boards
～Aiming for “standardization of information security” for IoT devices～

　As of today, on March 16, 2018 (Fri.), the three companies; GMO CLOUD K.K. (President and CEO: Mitsuru Aoyama, hereafter “GMO CLOUD”) of GMO Internet Group, its consolidated company GMO GlobalSign K.K. (President: Ichiro Chujo, hereafter “GMO GlobalSign”) and Shenzhen Atte Smart Tech Co., Ltd. of O-film group in China (Representative: Shenche, hereafter “Atte”) have started a joint research and development to realize the “IoT board (* 1) (= “IoT Security Board”) equipped with an electronic certificate storage area (trusted zone)” and “Electronic Certificate Installer for IoT (software)” that automatically distributes electronic certificates to the afore-mentioned boards.

In the future, we are looking to supply the mechanism (design) of “IoT Security Board” and “Electronic Certificate Installer for IoT” to IoT equipment (device) manufacturing factories, while utilizing Atte’s production system and sales channels for IoT products. When it happens, the IoT devices on which electronic certificates are installed would be infiltrated into the market, which is leading to the standardization of information security for IoT devices.

“Certificate-based authentication is similar to a biometric passport in that it verifies that devices have not been tampered with or reprogrammed and will prevent any compromised devices from re-joining the network and causing any disruption, providing a level of security unsurpassed by other IoT technologies.”

(*1) A small computer for the printed circuit board embedded to IoT devices, which is equipped with CPU, memory and network connection function.

Background of the joint R&D by three companies
In recent years, IoT, Internet connection of everything, is in progress, and it is estimated that 30 billion things (devices) will be connected to the Internet by 2020 (*2). However, while such a rapid spread of IoT is anticipated, the users can be exposed to the risk of cyber-attacks such as furtive glances of malicious third parties at the privacy information communicated via IoT devices, hijackings for illegal operations of the IoT device itself, etc.

Under such a circumstance, GMO CLOUD which is involved in IoT business, GMO GlobalSign which is developing electronic authentication services and Atte as an IoT-leading company in China thought that the “standardization of information security” for IoT devices can be achieved by equipping the IoT boards incorporated in IoT devices with electronic certificates as a standard feature. Then these three companies have decided to start the R&D on the mechanism that can automatically distribute electronic certificates to IoT boards.

(*2)　Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications “White Paper on Information and Communications in Japan in year 2017”
(*3)　Reference: “Comprehensive Security Measures for IoT” by the cyber security task force, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Outline of the R&D by three companies
GMO CLOUD is offering “IoT navi by GMO” or support desk for IoT, which delivers one-stop support from hearing & conception of the issues in the development of IoT business in corporations, to the planning & development, proof-of-concept at the introduction stage and development of services. In March 2018, the company has started collaboration with Atte and one other company in smart home business that utilizes IoT (*4).

GMO GlobalSIgn is providing the electronic certificates called “Client Certificates” that can verify the identity of the owner of IoT devices and authenticate and control access (access control) to cloud and servers from the device, and the IoT security solution called “Managed PKI for IoT” that can automatically and quickly distribute (install) a large quantity of “Client Certificates” to devices.

Meanwhile, Atte is an IoT-leading company in China, engaging in the planning & development, manufacture and sales of smart home and other products, with the technical capability that enables in-house development of software and hardware.

This time, the following two kinds of R&Ds will be conducted to enable automatic distributions of electronic certificates to IoT boards through the combination of respective know-how and technical strength of these three companies. With this mechanism, by installing electronic certificates on IoT boards as a standard feature, we can protect important information stored in IoT devices from the risk of spoofing, leakage, falsification, hacking” etc.

(*4) Announced on March 8, 2018; “GMO CLOUD, NICHIEI INTEC, Shenzhen Atte Smart Tech in China, to collaborate on the planning & development, manufacturing and sales expansion of the products in the smart home business that utilizes IoT” (URL: https://www.gmo.jp/news/article/?id=5970)

■Content of the R&D
IoT Security Board: An IoT board equipped with electronic certificate storage area. We are going to develop the IoT board that enables installation of electronic certificates in the secures area (trusted zone) existing in the IC chips mounted on IoT boards.

Electronic Certificate Installer for IoT: A software that automatically and quickly distributes electronic certificates to “IoT Security Boards”
We are going to conduct the development that enables quick and automatic distribution of electronic certificates to “IoT Security Boards” by improving “Managed PKI for IoT” provided by GMO GlobalSign.

Future Development
In the future, while utilizing Atte’s production system and sales channels of IoT products, we will provide the mechanism of “IoT Security Board” and “Electronic Certificate Installer for IoT” to the development & manufacturing factories for IoT devices and network equipment in Japan, China, Europe and the United States. By doing so, we are trying to spread the IoT devices on which electronic certificates are installed, aiming for “standardization of information security” of IoT devices.

About Shenzhen Atte Smart Tech Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Atte Smart Tech Co., Ltd. is a group company of O-film (Shenzhen O-film Tech Co., Ltd.), an information equipment parts manufacturer in China, which boasts the world’s top share in R&D, manufacturing and sales of touch panels. Since its establishment in 2015, the company has been involved mainly in the planning and development of smart home products as well as the development and manufacturing of AI and robots and become one of the prominent IoT-leading companies in China. Not only in-house development of software and hardware, the company is also involved in the development of services such as smart home, smart hotel and service robots with its powerful R&D team, through its established sales channels and networks in China. With the concept of “easy control, easy communications and excellent usability for everything”, the company is aiming to enable all families to have wonderful experiences with smart homes.

About GMO Cloud KK
GMO Cloud K.K. (TSE: 3788) is a full-service IT infrastructure provider focused on cloud solutions. Established as a hosting company in 1996, the company has managed servers for more than 130,000 businesses and now has 6,000 sales partners throughout Japan. In February of 2011, the company launched GMO Cloud to enhance its focus on cloud-based solutions. Since 2007, the company has also grown its GlobalSign SSL security brand through offices in Belgium, U.K., U.S., China and Singapore. For more information please visit https://ir.gmocloud.com/english/.

GMO Internet Group
GMO Internet Group is an Internet services industry leader, developing and operating Japan’s most widely used domain, hosting & cloud, ecommerce, security, and payment solutions. The Group also comprises the world’s largest online FX trading platform, as well as online advertising, Internet media, and mobile entertainment products. GMO Internet, Inc. (TSE: 9449) is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. For more information please visit https://www.gmo.jp/en/.