LG Electronics gains right to self-test products for EU cybersecurity compliance

LG Electronics has obtained accreditation from global certification body TÜV Rheinland to conduct European cybersecurity certification procedures in-house.

The company's Software Accredited Testing Laboratory, which operates under the CTO, announced Tuesday that it had received designated testing laboratory status from TÜV Rheinland for cybersecurity regulations under the European Radio Equipment Directive. With this accreditation, LG Electronics can test prototypes internally and, after review, receive European cybersecurity certificates — a process the company expects will significantly shorten the time from product development to market launch.

The Radio Equipment Directive requires wireless communication devices sold in Europe to meet high standards of security and safety technology. Since last year, the regulation has been tightened to mandate safeguards for network protection, personal data protection and fraud prevention.

With its newly acquired designated testing laboratory status, the Software Accredited Testing Laboratory can carry out certification testing for the regulation on its own. TÜV Rheinland will review the results of LG Electronics' in-house tests before issuing certificates.

Because LG Electronics no longer needs to ship prototypes to overseas certification bodies, it can substantially cut the time and cost involved in certification and product launch. The risk of product information leaks during the process has also been reduced.

The company said the accreditation will strengthen its business-to-business capabilities by allowing it to respond more quickly to the varied requirements of customers in the automotive components and air-conditioning sectors.

LG Electronics is also pursuing accreditation for the EU Cyber Resilience Act, which takes effect in Europe next year. The EU CRA covers all products containing digital elements, regardless of whether they support wireless communication.

To address cybersecurity regulations, LG Electronics draws on the cybersecurity expertise of the Next-Generation Computing Research Lab under its CTO and the testing laboratory operations of its Software Center.

The company is also reinforcing the security technology built into its products. Through its LG Shield platform, LG Electronics is building a security framework covering the entire product lifecycle from development through post-launch. It is also preparing for the possibility that advances in quantum computing could render conventional encryption obsolete, through the use of PQC.

"We will swiftly deliver safer and more reliable products and services to our customers, backed by our globally proven software capabilities," said Kim Dong-wook, executive vice president and head of LG Electronics' Software Center.