AIR Institute Champions Security by Design at Cybersecurity Week in Salamanca through the CERTIFY Project

During Cybersecurity Week, held from 5th to 7th May in Salamanca, the AIR Institute played an active role in workshops and panel discussions, particularly standing out in the session on “International Projects” with a presentation on the progress of the CERTIFY initiative. The project focuses on securing the entire lifecycle of IoT devices through a security-by-design approach.

Pablo Plaza, cybersecurity expert at AIR Institute, contributed to this panel discussion, highlighting the wide variety of IoT devices and their technical constraints as one of the key challenges in implementing effective security. “These devices often have limited processing power, reduced memory or constrained energy consumption, which makes it difficult to apply security measures without compromising their functionality,” he explained.

To tackle this issue, the CERTIFY project has developed a flexible methodological framework that integrates, from the initial design phase, the use of secure hardware, efficient cryptographic protocols, and standards such as MUD (Manufacturer Usage Description), which allow for secure and lightweight network traffic management.

The session also included a practical overview of the project, which features three real-world use cases: an aircraft cabin, a digitalised factory, and an art traceability system. These scenarios have enabled the proposed CERTIFY solutions to be tested and validated in diverse contexts, demonstrating their effectiveness and adaptability.

As a project partner, the AIR Institute reaffirms its commitment to applied research and the development of practical, real-world solutions that contribute to effective and forward-thinking cybersecurity.