The UK is taking an increasingly firm stance on digital security. With cyberattacks rising year after year and billions of connected devices now part of our daily lives, the government introduced the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Act to strengthen consumer protections and build trust in the digital ecosystem.
This landmark legislation, which came into force in April 2024, sets baseline security requirements for internet-connected devices and establishes obligations for manufacturers, importers, and distributors who place such products on the UK market. While its primary scope is consumer devices, its impact reaches far beyond the IoT sector, influencing standards across industries.
What is the PSTI Act?
The PSTI Act is part of the UK’s effort to ensure that connected products are “secure by design”. It introduces clear rules that every manufacturer or supplier must follow to protect consumers from common but serious risks such as weak default passwords, unpatched vulnerabilities, or insecure configurations.
At its core, the Act requires three key things:
- No default passwords: Devices must not ship with universal or easily guessable login credentials.
- A vulnerability disclosure policy: Manufacturers must provide a channel for security researchers and users to report vulnerabilities responsibly.
- Transparency on support periods: Customers must be told how long a product will receive security updates before purchase.
Why the PSTI Act Matters
Connected devices are not just personal gadgets anymore. They are gateways into homes, businesses, and even critical infrastructure. Insecure devices can be compromised and weaponized for larger attacks, such as botnets or ransomware campaigns.
The PSTI Act sets a minimum bar for security in a market that has often prioritized speed and cost over resilience. By doing so, it:
- Protects consumers from avoidable risks.
- Improves supply chain accountability by requiring manufacturers to take long-term responsibility for their products.
- Raises industry standards, encouraging companies to adopt stronger security practices even outside the Act’s direct scope.
Why Companies Should Pay Attention
Even if your business does not directly manufacture or sell consumer IoT devices, the PSTI Act signals a broader trend: regulators are increasingly demanding proof of secure practices from vendors and suppliers.
Adhering to the spirit of the PSTI Act helps organizations:
- Demonstrate trustworthiness to partners and customers.
- Reduce legal and reputational risks by avoiding insecure defaults.
- Stay ahead of regulation, as similar frameworks are being considered worldwide.
- Strengthen procurement appeal, as buyers increasingly prefer or require vendors with verifiable security commitments.
In other words, compliance is not just a checkbox for consumer electronics manufacturers—it’s a competitive advantage for any technology company.
RELIANOID and PSTI Compliance
At RELIANOID, we recognize that strong security must be built into our solutions from day one. While our products are enterprise-grade and not directly targeted by the PSTI Act’s consumer device scope, our development practices, disclosure processes, and lifecycle management align with the Act’s requirements and go beyond them.
We ensure:
- No default credentials are ever shipped with our solutions.
- A clear vulnerability disclosure program is in place.
- Long-term support periods are communicated and honored.
For organizations operating in the UK—whether in telecom, critical infrastructure, or enterprise IT—this alignment means RELIANOID is a trusted partner who can help them meet both current and evolving regulatory expectations.
You can read more details in our PSTI Compliance Page.
Final Thoughts
The PSTI Act is more than just a regulatory requirement—it’s a cultural shift in how security is treated in connected technology. By enforcing basic protections, it raises the bar for everyone and makes insecure design choices unacceptable.
Forward-thinking companies are already embracing these principles, not only to comply with regulation but also to build trust, resilience, and long-term business value.
At RELIANOID, we fully support this direction and continue to invest in making our solutions compliant with UK and global security standards—helping our customers stay secure and confident in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
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