Open Group Publishes Security Standard For Technology Supply Chain

The Open Group last week revealed a new set of standards designed to improve security in the technology supply chain and reduce the incidence of malware found in commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products.

There have been numerous incidences of malware found in IT products during the past few years. The most infamous was the code found in Huawei and ZTE devices, which was suspected of being placed by Chinese government cyberthreat actors, culminating in fears about the purchase of Chinese-made telecommunications equipment.

The new standards, dubbed Open Trusted Technology Provider Standard (O-TTPS), are designed to reduce the likelihood of such infections in the IT supply chain.

"Specifically intended to prevent maliciously tainted and counterfeit products from entering the supply chain, this first release of the O-TTPS codifies best practices across the entire COTS [IT] product lifecycle, including the design, sourcing, build, fulfillment, distribution, sustainment, and disposal phases," the Open Group said in a statement announcing the O-TTPS standard.

"The O-TTPS will enable organizations to implement best practice requirements and allow all providers, component suppliers. and integrators to obtain Trusted Technology Provider status," the Open Group said. "For customers, including government acquirers, O-TTPS can differentiate those providers who adopt the standard's practices.

"Tainted and counterfeit products pose significant risk to organizations because altered or non-genuine products introduce the possibility of untracked malicious behavior or poor performance," the Open Group continued. "Both product risks can damage customers and suppliers resulting in failed or inferior products, revenue and brand equity loss, and disclosure of intellectual property. The increase in sophistication of cyber-attacks has forced technology suppliers and governments to take a more comprehensive approach to risk management as it applies to product integrity and supply chain security."

The Open Group is now working to develop an accreditation program to help provide assurance that Trusted Technology Providers conform to the O-TTPS.

"With the increasing sophistication of cyber-attacks worldwide, technology buyers at large enterprises and government agencies need guarantees the products they source come from trusted suppliers and that they meet set criteria for securing their supply chains," said Open Group CTO David Lounsbury in the statement. "By codifying best of breed best practices already used by industry, the O-TTPS will have a significant impact on the future procurement of COTS ICT products, as well as the security and integrity of the global supply chain."

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