Fortress Information Security and the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) have launched a new cybersecurity certification program for commercial drones called Green Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS).

The goal of the program is to create a standard way to evaluate the security of commercial off-the-shelf drones used by the federal government, local law enforcement, first responders, state departments of transportation, and industrial enterprise users like energy and utilities, telecoms, manufacturing, food and agriculture, logistics, mapping and surveying companies.

Green UAS is the first product of AUVSI’s larger Trusted Cyber Program, which uses Fortress Information Security’s expertise in supply chain security for critical industries and the US Department of Defense.

The certification program checks the security of products and devices, the cyber hygiene of companies, how well remote operations work, and how well they connect. It is meant to meet the highest levels of cybersecurity and National Defense Authorization Act supply chain requirements.

According to Tobias Whitney, Vice President of Strategy and Policy for Fortress, the certification program provides a resource that enables enterprises to purchase secure UAS systems.

“Ultimately, Green UAS will be the first step for verifying the security of any uncrewed system, whether a drone, car, truck, or ship. This game changer will enable cybersecurity to become critical criteria in the procurement process,” he added.

Green UAS also offers a streamlined pathway to the Blue UAS 2.0 cleared list, a certification program by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), but designed for customers who do not immediately require Department of Defense authority to operate.

Michael Robbins, who is the Chief Advocacy Officer for AUVSI, said that making sure UAS products and their supply chains are safe is the basis for exponential innovation and the creation of new uncrewed solutions.