Blockchain for ICT Supply Chain Security: Part 2 – IoT and NFT Management Use Cases
By Kevin L. Jackson, SVP, Total Network Services Corporation
This is Part 2 of a 3 Part Series on the Enhanced Mobile Equipment Identifier (E-MEID) and how it can be used to improve ICT Supply Chain Security. The E-MEID is a tokenized MEID that creates a globally unique, auditable, and verifiable data repository for any physical or virtual asset connected to the wireless network. Part 1,”The Enhanced MEID (E-MEID)”, explained the E-MEID concept. Part 2, “IoT and NFT Management Use Cases“, describes how the E-MEID can be used to enhance Internet-of-Things (IoT) security and prevent unlicensed access to Non-Fungible Token (NFT) based digital assets.
As a participating member of the SCS 9001 Supply Chain Security Standard development process, TNS and TIA were able to identify how the E-MEID could collect 5 of the 11 recommended supply chain security measurements in the upcoming standard. That is why we have extended our collaboration to include four industry partners to demonstrate how to apply the E-MEID to four specific ICT industry-relevant use cases as part of the SCS 9001 pilot program. Two of our pilot partners and security enhancement demonstrations are as follows:
NIVID IT: Internet of things management for smart city deployments.
The global smart meters market size will grow from estimated revenue of $20.7 billion in 2020 to $28.6 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 6.7%. Government mandate and support policies drive intelligent meter installation across residential, commercial, and industrial end-use sectors. This growth also indicates a growing cybersecurity risk to the public sector as Smart City initiatives start worldwide.
Nivid’s uses a modular, flexible, and scalable IoT platform, named N-Smart, to manage assets, optimize sensors placement, and deliver data analytics for any Smart City use case. This approach turns data from a myriad of sources into useful, contextual information for CIO’s and City administrators. N-Smart IoT based Smart city use cases include waste management, asset tracking, energy and utilities, infrastructure, and parking. Cities with near term Smart City initiatives in the United States include:
- Dallas, TX
- Chicago, IL
- Austin, TX
- Seattle, WA
- Charlotte, NC
- San Francisco, CA
- Washington, DC
- Boston, MA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Boulder, CO
- San Jose, CA
- New York, NY
As part of the SCS 9001 pilot activity, TNS and NIVID IT plans to demonstrate how E-MEID can be used to document:
- % of information assets having an impact on supply chain security with a NIST NVD CVSS v3.0 score of 9 or more with the issue date for each
- % of information assets having an impact on supply chain security with a NIST NVD CVSS v3.0 score of equal to or greater than 7 but less than 9 with the date issued for each
- % of vulnerabilities remediated within the time frames threshold timeline specified in SCS9001
- % of vulnerabilities mitigated within the time frame threshold timeline set in SCS9001
- % of applications updated within the time frame threshold timeline set in SCS9001
- % of vulnerabilities attributable to each supplier
EIM Sensor: Virtual asset management on smart televisions and other light-emitting diode (LED) displays in the Hospitality industry sector
The global LED market size was valued at $38.4 billion in 2021 and should reach $72.8 billion by 2026. Analysts expect the market to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.6% during the forecast period due to the rapid adoption of LED displays in smartphones and the high demand for a better viewing experience from smartphone and television consumers.
Although global TV sales should decline slightly this year, shipments of premium TVs will grow. The sales of LED TVs, anchored by the world’s largest TV maker Samsung, are likely to surpass 12 million units this year, up 26% from a year ago. Samsung last year sold 7.79 million LED TVs, accounting for more than 81% of global LED TV sales.
EIM Sensor is developing a solution for tracking and managing virtual assets like Non-Fungible Token (NFT) based digital art. They are working with Samsung on using this solution to control the distribution and sale of NFT digital art through smart televisions for the hospitality industry. According to a Cisco study, in 2019, online video streaming accounted for 90% of the internet traffic. For these reasons, intelligent LED TVs are redefining entertainment and are transforming the entertainment industry.
As part of the SCS 9001 pilot activity, TNS and EIM Sensor plan to demonstrate how E-MEID can be used to document:
- % of information assets having an impact on supply chain security with a NIST NVD CVSS v3.0 score of 9 or more with the issue date for each
- % of information assets having an impact on supply chain security with a NIST NVD CVSS v3.0 score of equal to or greater than 7 but less than 9 with the date issued for each
- % of vulnerabilities remediated within the time frames threshold timeline specified in SCS9001
- % of vulnerabilities mitigated within the time frame threshold timeline set in SCS9001
- % of applications updated within the time frame threshold timeline set in SCS9001
- % of vulnerabilities attributable to each supplier
If you are interested in learning more about the Enhance MEID or the associated SCS 9001 Pilot demonstrations, please contact Kevin L. Jackson, SVP TNS Corporation, via email at Kevin@TNSCorp.io.
This was Part 2 of a three-part series. Part 3, “Securing The National Wireless Infrastructure“, describes how ComSovereign is investigating how the E-MEID could be used to secure the US national wireless infrastructure.
TIA does not endorse TNS or the solutions it proposes. TIA is technology and vendor neutral. The MEID is managed by TIA and the “enhanced” aspects proposed by TNS are products and services that utilize the MEID but are not standardized by TIA engineering committees nor approved or marketed by TIA.
