Australia is set to launch a security labelling pilot at the Connecting Technology Summit, aiming to help consumers easily compare the security features of connected devices before purchase, as the nation’s mandatory standards for smart device security take effect.
Australia’s push to make connected devices safer is moving from regulation to market signalling, with a security labelling pilot due to be launched at the Connecting Technology Summit in early September. The pilot is designed to test how a visible label could help buyers compare the security of smart products before purchase, while also giving vendors a clearer way to demonstrate compliance and secure-by-design features.
According to the Australian Government, mandatory cybersecurity standards for consumer smart devices took effect on 4 March 2026 under the Cyber Security (Security Standards for Smart Devices) Rules 2025. The rules ban universal default passwords, require manufacturers to provide a channel for reporting security issues and oblige suppliers to disclose how long security support will be available. The government has framed the measures as part of its 2023-2030 cyber security strategy and as broadly aligned with international practice.
The labelling pilot is being developed by Standards Australia and the Internet of Things Alliance Australia, with the aim of giving consumers a simpler way to assess device security claims. Rather than forcing buyers to interpret technical fine print, the scheme is intended to present security information in a more comparable form at the point of sale.
The Connecting Technology Summit itself will run from 1 to 3 September 2026 and will feature the pilot’s launch by Tony Burke, the Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship, Cyber Security and the Arts. The event programme will also cover interoperability, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and regulation, with organisers saying the discussion will include the effect of the label on consumers, manufacturers and the wider smart device market.
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