We live in a world where just about everything is “smart.” Thermostats. Fridges. Cars. Baby monitors. Even toothbrushes. And while all this connectivity is convenient, it also brings serious risks—especially when it comes to safety.
Here’s the thing most people don’t realize: a cybersecurity flaw in a connected product can be just as dangerous as a physical defect.
That’s why the line between product safety and information security (InfoSec) is fading fast. And if you’re designing, building, or certifying smart products, you can’t afford to treat these two things separately anymore. Let’s break it down—and look at one real-world case that made it very clear what’s at stake.
Why Cybersecurity Matters for Product Safety
In the past, when we talked about “product safety,” we were mostly talking about sharp edges, overheating batteries, or choking hazards. But now, think about this:
- What if someone could remotely turn off your insulin pump?
- What if a hacker could slam on your smart car’s brakes?
- What if your baby monitor livestreamed to strangers online?
These aren’t far-off sci-fi ideas. They’ve already happened.
And that’s exactly why cybersecurity needs to be considered part of your product’s safety profile. If a connected device can be accessed, altered, or shut down by someone outside the system, that’s a safety risk—period.
A Real Example: St. Jude Medical Device Hack
Back in 2016, cybersecurity firm MedSec teamed up with an investment group and made a bombshell announcement: implantable heart devices made by St. Jude Medical had serious security flaws.
These devices—pacemakers and defibrillators—used wireless communication to let doctors monitor patient data. But researchers found that hackers could potentially drain the battery or trigger inappropriate shocks from outside the body.
This wasn’t just a privacy issue. This was a life-threatening product safety failure.
The FDA confirmed the vulnerabilities, and the company (later acquired by Abbott) had to issue software patches and face legal battles. The damage to their reputation was huge. But more importantly, it made one thing clear to the world:
Connected products can’t be considered safe unless they’re also secure.
So What Does This Mean for Quality Teams?
If your team is responsible for product quality, your job just got more complex. You’re not just looking at physical specs or manufacturing defects anymore. You need to ask:
- Is the software secure?
- Can firmware updates be hijacked?
- What happens to product behaviour if someone gains access to the system?
And it’s not just about customer data, either. It’s about protecting how the product functions. A breach that disrupts the core performance of your product is now a safety issue—full stop.
This is where standards like ISO 27001 (information security) and ISO 9001 (quality management) start to overlap. More and more companies are building integrated systems that cover both—because they have to.
What You Can Do to Bridge the Gap
Here’s how to start bringing InfoSec and product safety into one conversation:
- Bring Security into Product Design Early
Security can’t be an afterthought. Involve InfoSec experts from the first design review, just like you would a safety engineer.
- Think About Impact, Not Just Privacy
If someone messes with your software, what can go wrong? Could it hurt someone? Don’t just focus on protecting data—focus on protecting product function.
- Test Like a Hacker
Use ethical hackers or penetration testers to try and break into your device, not just your website. Simulate real-world attacks and see how the product holds up.
- Use the Right Mix of Standards
Pair ISO 27001 with UL 2900 (for cyber safety in connected products), and bring that into your quality system. Think of it like a toolkit—not one-size-fits-all.
- Plan for the Worst
No system is bulletproof. Have a crisis response plan that includes both cyber incidents and product recalls. Know who’s doing what when something goes wrong.
The Bottom Line
Smart products bring smart problems. And the biggest risk? Thinking cybersecurity and product safety are two different things. They’re not.
If your product is connected—even if it seems harmless—you need to treat information security as part of its safety profile. That means your quality team, your IT security folks, and your product designers all need to talk, plan, and work together from day one.
The companies doing this right are the ones customers trust. The ones that don’t? They end up in the news for all the wrong reasons.
If you’re not sure where to start, or want help aligning InfoSec and product safety standards, QCert360 can help you figure it out. From ISO 27001 to cybersecurity audits to integrated risk planning—we’ve got the expertise.
Get in touch at contact@qcert360.com or call +91 7483870406.
FAQ's
1. Why is cybersecurity considered part of product safety in smart devices?
Cybersecurity protects users from data breaches, unauthorized control, and safety risks that can arise from compromised connected products.
2. What types of smart devices need cybersecurity compliance?
Smart home gadgets, wearables, industrial IoT systems, connected vehicles, and medical devices all require strong cybersecurity measures to ensure user safety.
3. What are the risks of ignoring cybersecurity in product design?
Risks include hacking, data theft, operational disruption, loss of user trust, legal penalties, and even physical harm in certain use cases.
4. Are there regulations that enforce cybersecurity for products?
Yes. Regulations like the EU Cyber Resilience Act, US IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act, and other national standards are making cybersecurity mandatory in product safety frameworks.
5. How does poor cybersecurity affect product recalls?
Devices with exploitable vulnerabilities may face recalls, legal actions, or bans from specific markets due to non-compliance with safety standards.
6. Can cybersecurity issues lead to non-compliance with CE or UKCA marking?
Yes. For connected devices, failing to address cybersecurity risks can result in failed assessments under CE or UKCA directives, especially under RED (Radio Equipment Directive).
7. What’s the role of Secure-by-Design in smart products?
It means building cybersecurity into the product from the start—covering hardware, software, data privacy, and ongoing updates—not adding it as an afterthought.
8. How can manufacturers assess cybersecurity risk in products?
Through threat modeling, penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and applying cybersecurity standards like ISO/IEC 27001, 62443, or ETSI EN 303 645.
9. Do international certifications include cybersecurity requirements?
Yes. Increasingly, standards like CE, UL, ISO 27001, and IEC 62443 include cybersecurity as part of their product safety and risk management scope.
10. How can QCert360 help manufacturers with cybersecurity compliance?
QCert360 helps manufacturers align with global cybersecurity standards, conduct gap assessments, and ensure compliance for CE, UKCA, and other regulatory marks.
