[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/FCC Cyber Trust Mark for Connected Consumer Products USCybersecurityCertification guide # FCC Cyber Trust Mark for Connected Consumer Products The FCC Cyber Trust Mark is a voluntary label for consumer IoT products that meet a NIST-based cybersecurity baseline. It gives manufacturers a way to signal security to buyers at the point of sale, backed by accredited third-party testing rather than a self-declaration. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Ffcc-cyber-trust-mark) At a glance Program type Voluntary, consumer-facing Technical baseline NIST SP 800-213A Launched 2024 Administration FCC-recognized lead administrator + accredited labs Consumer-facing feature Label + QR code to security registry ## What the mark covers ### Eligible product categories The program targets consumer wireless IoT products — smart home devices, connected appliances, fitness and wearable devices, home security cameras, and similar consumer-facing connected hardware. Enterprise, industrial, and medical devices sit outside the initial consumer scope. ### Voluntary, not mandatory Unlike CE/FCC equipment authorization, there is no legal requirement to display the mark to sell a device in the US. Participation is a market-differentiation decision, not a market-access gate. ### Distinct from FCC equipment authorization The Cyber Trust Mark addresses cybersecurity capability, not RF emissions or spectrum compliance. A product still needs its separate FCC equipment authorization (Part 15, Part 68, etc.) regardless of Cyber Trust Mark participation. ## How certification works 01 Manufacturer engages a CyberLAB — an accredited test laboratory recognized under the program — to assess the device against the NIST SP 800-213A capability baseline. 02 The lab evaluates device identification, secure configuration, data protection, access control, software update capability, and cybersecurity event logging, mirroring the same six capability areas used in federal IoT procurement. 03 A recognized lead administrator oversees the accreditation of labs, maintains the master label registry, and issues use rights for the mark once a product passes. 04 The manufacturer publishes a product security label with a scannable code linking to a public registry entry — covering the support-end date, patch information, and other consumer-relevant security disclosures. 05 Certification is tied to a specific product/firmware baseline; a major security-relevant change to the device typically requires re-assessment to keep using the mark. ## Why manufacturers pursue it anyway ### Retail and marketplace signaling Major retailers and online marketplaces have shown interest in surfacing Cyber Trust Mark status in listings, making it a practical differentiator in competitive smart-home and wearable categories. ### Government-adjacent and enterprise sales Even though the mark itself targets consumer products, the underlying NIST SP 800-213A baseline is the same one referenced in federal procurement — so certifying against it can double as groundwork for government and critical-infrastructure sales. ### Lower rework risk later Building to the SP 800-213A baseline from the design stage is materially cheaper than retrofitting update mechanisms, access control, and logging into a shipped product later. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is the FCC Cyber Trust Mark mandatory? No. It is a voluntary labeling program. A connected product can be legally sold in the US without it, as long as it holds the separate, mandatory FCC equipment authorization that covers RF and spectrum compliance. ### How is this different from the IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act? The IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020 governs federal agency procurement of IoT devices and directed NIST to publish the SP 800-213A baseline. The Cyber Trust Mark applies that same baseline to consumer products on a voluntary, market-facing basis. They share a technical foundation but serve different audiences. ### Who tests a product for the mark? Testing is performed by accredited, FCC-recognized test laboratories under the program, not by self-declaration. A recognized lead administrator oversees lab accreditation and the master product registry. ### Does getting the mark replace FCC equipment authorization? No. Equipment authorization (covering RF emissions, spectrum use, and related rules) and the Cyber Trust Mark are separate, independent requirements. A product needs its equipment authorization regardless of whether it also pursues the Cyber Trust Mark. **Disclaimer:** This page is an educational resource only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. Program administration details, accredited lab lists, and eligible product categories are updated periodically by the FCC and program administrator — verify current requirements before making product decisions. 🇺🇸 US roadmap for your product Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take your product through 🇺🇸 US compliance for you? One consultant from Krono's compliance team takes your product from requirements to legal sale, with a fixed quote before any work starts. 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Get the book — $24.99](/books/12-fcc-cyber-trust-mark-iot-security) Related guides * [US IoT Cybersecurity ActGuide to the IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020 — NIST SP 800-213A baseline, federal procurement requirements, and the F…](/guides/us-iot-cybersecurity-act) * [US NIST IoT CybersecurityNIST IoT cybersecurity in plain English: NISTIR 8259A core baseline, 8259B, SP 800-213/213A federal catalog, NIST IR…](/guides/us-nist-iot-cybersecurity) * [UK Cyber Essentials for Connected ProductsWhat Cyber Essentials certifies, and how it differs from PSTI product security rules.](/guides/uk-cyber-essentials-connected-products) * [EU CRA Vulnerability ReportingThe Cyber Resilience Act's 24-hour and 72-hour vulnerability and incident reporting deadlines, explained.](/guides/eu-cra-vulnerability-reporting-obligations)