TNO’s data spaces software third in the world to be certified

Future standard for exchanging data

International data spaces allow organisations to securely exchange data without data flows running through a centralised platform. As a result, the original owner always retains control over the data and sets restrictions and conditions on its use. These decentralised platforms are based on technical, legal and economic agreements to exchange open and private data securely and smoothly. An example is the integration of (open) data on air quality with (private) data from medical records. Parties have access thanks to a special gateway software component, the so-called connector, which can share data in a safe and trusted manner.

TNO Security Gateway

The connector, developed by TNO, enables companies to connect to a data space with minimal effort. Like other connectors, the TSG adheres to the Reference Architecture Model (RAM) of the IDSA. A unique feature of the TSG is that it enables integration with existing services by means of specific data apps, using an abstraction of the Reference Architecture Model. The first lighthouse project where the TSG is being used is the Smart Connected Supplier Network (SCSN), an operating data space in the Netherlands with over 300 participants.

Certification can stimulate the adoption of data spaces

Certification is an important step in the adoption of data spaces, because security is essential in trusted data sharing. It improves trust in the connectors, because independent third parties have validated the security requirements that are needed for trusted and secure data sharing. This means companies do not have to rely on only the developer or maintainer of the component, but they can be assured that the connector adheres to the security standards that are vital for secure and trusted data sharing.