The Australian Government has launched a pilot cyber security labelling program for smart devices, giving consumers a way to assess the security of connected products before purchase.
Home Affairs and Cyber Security Minister Tony Burke unveiled the scheme’s new certification label at the Connecting Technology Summit on September 2, asserting that consumers should be able to identify potential security risks when buying devices such as smart speakers and robot vacuums.
“These new labels will let consumers know how safe a product is before they buy it,” Burke said.
“The program will also put pressure on manufacturers because they will know cyber security has a value to Australian consumers.”
The Voluntary Security Labelling Scheme is being co-developed by the Department of Home Affairs and the Connected Technology Alliance, with a certification label designed to provide an indication of a product’s security level.
The pilot moves the scheme from design into testing, with participating laboratories assessing real products while the Alliance refines its certification methods.
Connected Technology Alliance chair Judy Anderson said the launch was an “important milestone” for consumers and the connected technology industry.
“The security certification label gives consumers a clear way to understand the security credentials of the products they are considering,” Anderson said.
Pilot vendors include NetComm, Telstra, ASSA ABLOY (Lockwood) and Electrolux, with Viden, Securus Consulting Group, Teron Labs, DEKRA, and TÜV SÜD participating as testing laboratories.
NBN data shows households averaged 25 connected devices in 2025, a figure predicted to reach 44 by 2030.
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