After leaving the European Union the United Kingdom (UK) independently determines its cybersecurity regulations and has exited the cybersecurity framework of the European Union (EU). The UK has its national laws and standards for addressing cybersecurity issues and is not obligated to automatically adopt EU regulations or directives in this area. The PSTI, or Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure, is a regulatory system applicable in the United Kingdom.
The purpose of the UK PSTI is to enhance the security of connectable products and minimize cybersecurity risks associated with these products in the United Kingdom. According to the regulation, connected (both wired and wireless) device manufacturers must comply with these requirements and conduct compliance assessments.
Manufacturers are responsible for managing cybersecurity threats, and they must inform users adequately about security-related matters concerning the product.
It's important to note that the UK PSTI is a specific regulation in the United Kingdom and does not apply to other countries or regions. Besides the UK PSTI, different product safety and cybersecurity regulations may apply in other countries.
The PSTI consists of two main parts the first part is the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022, which includes legislative and general requirements, defining obligations for manufacturers and distributors, and specifying penalties. The second part is the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (Security Requirements for Relevant Connectable Products) Regulations 2023, which details the security requirements for connected products.
Under this regulation, security requirements are defined for relevant connectable products, which include items such as smart home devices, smart cameras, and other internet-connected devices. The PSTI covers both cybersecurity and general safety aspects, addressing areas like password management, vulnerability disclosure policies, software updates, as well as regular and minimum security requirements.
The RED (Radio Equipment Directive) is an EU-wide and EU-defined directive that regulates wireless products such as radio equipment, mobile phones, Wi-Fi devices, etc. regulates its safety requirements and applies to products with the CE mark. Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) is a legislation introduced by the UK to regulate the security requirements for connectable products, including wireless and wired products. PSTI only applies in the United Kingdom.
RED is not directly applicable to wired products, only wireless products, but PSTI applies to both wired and wireless products targeting the UK market, including associated security requirements.
Therefore, in the UK, connectable products, including both wireless and wired products, might be subject to both the RED and PSTI guidelines, depending on the type of product and the market where it is sold.
The PSTI Act received Royal Assent in December 2022, and the draft of the PSTI (Security Requirements for Relevant Connectable Products) Regulations was published in April 2023. These regulations were officially enacted on September 14, 2023. The relevant part of PSTI Act regulating consumer connectable product security will become effective on April 29, 2024.
Starting from that date, manufacturers of consumer connectable products in the UK will be obligated to meet the prescribed minimum security requirements. These requirements are derived from the UK’s Code of Practice for Consumer IoT security, the globally recognized standard ETSI EN 303 645 for consumer IoT security, and guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre, the UK’s technical authority for cyber threats. The regulatory framework also ensures that other entities within the supply chains of these products fulfill their responsibilities in preventing the sale of insecure consumer products to UK consumers and businesses.
While UK PSTI does not mandate the engagement of third-party testing labs or certification bodies, it remains an option for manufacturers lacking competency. CCLab, as an accredited testing laboratory, is capable of conducting evaluations based on ETSI 303 645 and UK PSTI requirements for both the EU and UK markets. Furthermore, CCLab can provide a non-accredited certificate of conformity on the cybersecurity conformance of connectable devices.
Download our ETSI EN 303 635 infographics today and learn about the product certification process for this consumer IoT device cybersecurity standard.
Due to the upcoming deadline, QIMA and CCLab are organizing a joint webinar to familiarize registrants with the details of PSTI, which products it affects, to whom it applies and to present its relevant services.
As the IoT device market is rapidly growing, one of the most important challenges in the IoT device market is cybersecurity. Because these devices are connected to a network, they are vulnerable to cyberattacks that could compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the device and the information it processes. This can have serious consequences.