New Challenges in Security & Privacy for CEI (Cloud Edge IoT)

As Cloud-Edge-IoT technologies move from research to large-scale deployment, security and privacy are becoming essential design requirements. From connected vehicles and energy systems to data spaces and AI applications, ensuring trust across distributed infrastructures is key to Europe's digital future.

These topics were at the centre of the latest CEI-Sphere webinar on Security and Privacy for Cloud-Edge-IoT, which brought together experts from European projects, research organisations and industry to discuss cybersecurity, standardisation, data sharing and secure-by-design architectures.

The webinar opened with an overview of the INSTAR project, highlighting how international cooperation is advancing cybersecurity and digital identity standards. Through expert task forces, the project has identified common priorities including post-quantum cryptography, zero-trust architectures, digital identity and privacy-by-design, while continuing its work through new collaborations supporting Europe's digital sovereignty.

The discussion then turned to data spaces, presented not simply as a technology but as governance and interoperability frameworks that enable organisations to securely share data while retaining control over it. Speakers explained how federated governance, machine-enforceable policies and provenance tracking can facilitate trusted collaboration and support AI-ready datasets without compromising privacy.

Another key topic was post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and the need to prepare Cloud-Edge-IoT infrastructures for the quantum era. Hybrid approaches combining classical and quantum-safe cryptography were presented as practical solutions to protect future applications, alongside guidance for organisations planning their transition to quantum-resistant security.

The webinar also showcased Pilot 7 of the O-CEI Large-Scale Pilot, which is developing a secure Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) charging ecosystem over private 5G networks. Combining AI-based intrusion detection, dynamic trust management, blockchain technologies and zero-trust principles, the pilot demonstrates how Cloud-Edge-IoT technologies can deliver secure, scalable V2G services while protecting critical infrastructure.

Looking beyond individual technologies, the final session explored the broader ecosystem needed to support secure Cloud-Edge-IoT deployments. Initiatives such as LICOS are developing reusable privacy-preserving technologies and federated data-sharing solutions, while collaboration between research projects, standardisation bodies, open-source communities and industry continues to drive trustworthy digital innovation.

A recurring message throughout the webinar was that security, privacy and interoperability must evolve together. As Cloud-Edge-IoT applications become increasingly integrated into Europe's energy, mobility and industrial sectors, collaboration across projects and disciplines will be essential to transform research into trusted, scalable solutions.

Watch the recording 📹