The importance of public key infrastructure (PKI) for the Internet of Things (IoT) is steadily increasing. According to the latest findings by ABI Research, the PKI IoT market will reach a global volume of 5 billion US dollars by 2030. This development is driven by regulatory requirements, industry-specific standards and global IoT initiatives that require robust identity and access management.

PKI as the basis for secure IoT communication

With the increasing networking of IoT devices, the need to create secure and trusted communication channels is growing. PKI provides the digital trust mechanisms needed to protect IoT systems and adapts to the specific requirements of the diverse IoT landscape. Aisling Dawson, industry analyst at ABI Research, emphasises:
‘Given the complexity of the IoT, adaptable PKI offerings and integrated solutions are becoming more and more prevalent. This signals a shift towards scalable, web-based trust networks and away from traditional, centralised PKI models. In particular, the automation of certificate management and AI-supported cryptography will be crucial to minimise post-quantum security risks.’

Market leaders are driving PKI-IoT innovation

The advantages of PKI-based solutions for IoT are supported by industry leaders such as Keyfactor, Venafi, Utimaco and Digicert. Companies such as Entrust and Globalsign are also increasingly focusing on specialised PKI-IoT solutions, creating new competitive dynamics. Container-based certificate management systems and embedded PKI solutions that adapt to the increasing use of cloud computing by companies are in particular demand.
Strong growth is expected in the automotive, manufacturing and healthcare sectors in particular. This is due, among other things, to the growing demand for quantum-resistant security solutions between 2023 and 2030. Vendors such as Sectigo and AppViewX are focusing on flexible certificate management, while pioneers such as SEALSQ and Kudelski are integrating post-quantum algorithms into their PKI IoT technologies.

Continued development is the key to success

Despite the promising developments, PKI technology for IoT devices remains challenging. As Dawson emphasises:
‘PKI offers enormous potential for securing IoT devices, but it is not a panacea. Continued development of PKI to meet specific IoT requirements is essential. Implementing post-quantum-capable PKI solutions early can provide a decisive competitive advantage.’
The future of PKI-IoT depends on how quickly companies respond to new threats and technological change. A comprehensive and flexible approach is crucial to ensure long-term security and trust in the digital world.