Thales and Tata Communications join forces to address businesses’ data security concerns around IoT

Global IoT security solution aims to safeguard critical data both on device and network level, in particular for the automotive industry

READING, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Thales, a global leader in digital security, and Tata Communications, a leading global digital infrastructure provider, are working together to develop a secure global IoT connectivity solution. Tata Communications MOVE™ mobility and IoT platform and Thales’s T-Sure warranted digital identity offering is set to unlock the value in data generated by connected devices such as cars and trucks, whilst maintaining the integrity and security of IoT data.

In Tata Communications’ global Cycle of Progress¹ survey, 30% of IT decision makers cited security and 25% cited privacy issues as the biggest barriers to IoT adoption. The combined capabilities of Tata Communications and Thales aims to lower these barriers and enable businesses and manufacturers to make the most of the transformational potential of IoT by giving them peace of mind that their critical IoT data is protected against cyber-attacks.

Thales will provide its T-sure warranted digital identity solution to Tata Communications MOVE™ SIM cards, based on technologies from Gemalto, a Thales company. While Tata Communications MOVE™ encrypts the data in motion (in current use), T-Sure protects the information at rest (archived) on the SIM, therefore safeguarding data both on the network and at the device level. The two companies look to undertake a series of proof-of-concepts with customers to test this solution in action.

The need to protect IoT data is a major concern for the automotive industry, due to advancements in connected cars and autonomous vehicles coupled with the continued threat of cyber-attacks. The Thales and Tata Communications’ solution aims to secure the data that vehicles carry and provide control over data and applications, whilst keeping hackers and cyber-criminals at bay. Reliable communications from vehicles to infrastructure (V2I) and from vehicle to vehicle (V2V) will help unlock the value in data generated by vehicles in applications such as driving pattern analytics, emergency services or preventive maintenance.

Thus, the manufacturer will be able to gather data through the SIM to ensure a vehicle is operating safely, the dealership can use the SIM for keeping track of the maintenance logs, and the vehicle car owner can trust that his or her private information stays private. The solution aims to allow for multiple secure ‘vaults’ within the vehicle to which only the vault owner has access. This means that the manufacturer, dealership and vehicle owner will each have their own private, secure space to store information, run applications and establish communications, and the security of these vaults would be enabled and managed via the Tata Communications MOVE™ platform.

“The only thing that will allow IoT to fulfil its potential and bring about innovations like autonomous vehicles is totally trusted and secure data connectivity. The marriage of Tata Communications’ expertise in the connected automotive sector with Thales’s leadership position in IoT and data security, reinforced by the integration of Gemalto, is driving an offering that will give end users complete trust in the integrity of their data whilst opening up new business opportunities for manufacturers.” Gareth Williams, Vice President, Secure Communications & Information Systems, Thales

¹ More than 1,600 business decision makers were surveyed at the end of 2018 for the ‘Cycle of Progress’ across 10 countries: Germany, France, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, US and Canada. The survey was commissioned by Tata Communications.

“IoT could transform how businesses operate and how people engage with one another and with every ‘thing.’ Protecting data against cyber-attacks both at the device and network level is crucial to accelerate IoT adoption worldwide. Combining Tata Communications MOVE™ with Thales’s T-Sure solution helps businesses adopt IoT with confidence, and takes us closer to fulfilling our vision for a world where anything can be born connected – and born secure.” Anthony Bartolo, Chief Product Officer, Tata Communications.

^{© TATA COMMUNICATIONS and TATA are trademarks of Tata Sons Limited in certain countries. Tata Communications MOVE is a trademark of Tata Communications in certain countries.}

Forward-looking and cautionary statements

Certain words and statements in this release concerning Tata Communications and its prospects, and other statements, including those relating to Tata Communications’ expected financial position, business strategy, the future development of Tata Communications’ operations, and the general economy in India, are forward-looking statements. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including financial, regulatory and environmental, as well as those relating to industry growth and trend projections, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Tata Communications, or industry results, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, among others, failure to increase the volume of traffic on Tata Communications’ network; failure to develop new products and services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; failure to successfully complete commercial testing of new technology and information systems to support new products and services, including voice transmission services; failure to stabilize or reduce the rate of price compression on certain of the company’s communications services; failure to integrate strategic acquisitions and changes in government policies or regulations of India and, in particular, changes relating to the administration of Tata Communications’ industry; and, in general, the economic, business and credit conditions in India. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, many of which are not in Tata Communications’ control, include, but are not limited to, those risk factors discussed in Tata Communications Limited’s Annual Reports. The Annual Reports of Tata Communications Limited are available at www.tatacommunications.com. Tata Communications is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements.

Contacts

PRESS CONTACTS

Thales, Media Relations 
Security 
Constance Arnoux 
+33 (0)6 44 12 16 35 
constance.arnoux@thalesgroup.com

Thales, UK 
Michael Duncan 
+44 (0)7977241663 
Michael.duncan@uk.thalesgroup.com

GROUP COMMUNICATIONS – Thales – Tour Carpe Diem - 31 Place des Corolles - 92098 Paris La Défense Cedex - France – Tel.: +33(0)1 57 77 86 26 - www.thalesgroup.com

Tata Communications, Corporate Communications 
Kersti Klami 
Tata Communications 
+44 7917 173 853 
kersti.klami@tatacommunicatons.com