Aeris Communications, a global leader in secure cellular IoT platforms, and Bridge Alliance, a prominent alliance for mobile network operators across Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, have collaborated to introduce Aeris IoT Watchtower in the Asia-Pacific region. This agentless solution aims to provide enterprises with comprehensive visibility into the cyber risks associated with their IoT devices, along with tools designed to prevent or limit damage from cyberattacks. This agreement builds upon an existing partnership where Aeris already provides cellular IoT connectivity management services to participating Bridge Alliance Member Operators (BMOs) via the Aeris IoT Accelerator (IoTA) platform.
Enterprises are increasingly facing security challenges with their expanding cellular IoT deployments, as these devices become prime targets for cyber attackers seeking to breach corporate networks. Research by Forrester indicates that IoT devices within company assets are now a primary target for corporate cyber-attacks. Current IoT connectivity solutions often lack the end-to-end visibility and control necessary for enterprises to effectively detect and mitigate such threats. Concurrently, sectors like automotive and utilities are increasingly leveraging cellular IoT to generate new revenue streams and enhance operational efficiency. The global number of cellular IoT connections is rapidly growing, with Berg Insights reporting 1.1 billion connected cellular IoT devices globally, projecting a 16% CAGR over the next three years. The Asia-Pacific region has seen substantial growth, with 170 million connected cellular IoT devices currently, expected to almost double by 2030, according to The Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2024 by GSMA.
Aeris and Bridge Alliance intend to address this cellular IoT security gap by offering Aeris IoT Watchtower to enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region. The solution comprises two key components: “Awareness” and “Enforcement.” These elements are designed to deliver enterprise IoT visibility and control, enabling the detection of IoT security breaches and significantly reducing the impact of any security event. Furthermore, Aeris IoT Watchtower provides regular risk assessments and device insights, aiming to improve operational efficiency and ensure regulatory compliance. While already available in the United States and Europe, the solution is now being rolled out across Asia-Pacific through the partnership with Bridge Alliance.
Dr. Ong Geok Chwee, CEO of Bridge Alliance, stated, “The commercial launch of Aeris IoT Watchtower in Asia-Pacific for our BMOs and their customers marks a milestone in enhancing security for the IoTA platform. It will boost security and regulatory compliance for enterprise IoT deployments and offer advanced network visibility to meet cybersecurity needs. We anticipate extending Watchtower into more APAC markets in the coming months.” Mark Cratsenburg, Chief Commercial Officer for the IoT Business Unit at Aeris, emphasized the solution’s ease of use: “Aeris IoT Watchtower offers real-time protection with zero friction. It provides enterprises complete visibility into their cellular IoT security risks and the ability to neutralize threats before they impact operations, all seamlessly built into their existing cellular data path.”
Bridge Alliance, established in 2004, is a leading mobile alliance for premier operators and their customers across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. With 35 members, the alliance collectively serves over 1 billion customers. Its objective is to build group capabilities and create value for members by enabling roaming services, offering multi-market enterprise and IoT solutions, and achieving savings through group economies. Member operators include Airtel, AIS, China Telecom, China Unicom, CSL, CTM, Deutsche Telekom, Globe, Maxis, Metfone, MobiFone, Optus, Singtel, SK Telecom, stc, SoftBank Corp., Taiwan Mobile, and Telkomsel.
For over three decades, Aeris has been a cellular IoT leader, supporting major IoT programs and opportunities in sectors such as automotive, utilities and energy, fleet management and logistics, medical devices, and manufacturing. Aeris collaborates with nearly 30 top mobile network operators providing IoT connectivity in over 190 countries, serving 7,000 enterprise customers and managing 90 million IoT devices globally. As a significant orchestrator of eSIMs for IoT, Aeris enables connected smart world applications with technologies and borderless connectivity that streamline management, enhance security, optimize performance, and drive growth at scale. Its offerings include the Aeris IoT Accelerator platform-as-a-service, Aeris IoT Watchtower, and Aeris Mobility Suite for connected vehicles.
