The ISO and IEC (International Organization for Standardization and International Electrotechnical Commission) are global organizations that facilitate the development of international standards that contribute to innovation, sustainability, and global trade. Sparkplug® is an open software specification that enables OT (operational technology) customers to use industry standards such as OASIS MQTT in mission-critical environments to achieve seamless integration of data from their applications, sensors, devices, and gateways with most IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) infrastructure. As a result, Sparkplug® allows companies to easily deploy their complex IIoT systems for mission-critical applications in record time.
“The publication of Sparkplug® 3.0 as an international standard is significant, not only for the Sparkplug community but for any organization that needs to digitally transform its business using IIoT technologies,” said Mike Milinkovich, executive director of the Eclipse Foundation. “Sparkplug has experienced meteoric growth over the past few years, driven primarily by the ongoing transition to true IIoT infrastructure across many industries. This standard provides the key to seamless integration of the many disparate technologies that make up this complex OT/IT ecosystem. Sparkplug’s new status as an international standard will accelerate this adoption and serve as recognition of its immense value to the industry.”.
The PAS transposition process for reviewing and approving externally developed specifications in JTC 1 is neutral for all contributors and involves the entire industry. Going forward, the Sparkplug® specification will also be known as ISO/IEC 20237.The Eclipse Foundation retains ownership of the specification and will submit future revisions through the PAS transposition process.
“JTC 1 appreciates the opportunity to work with the Eclipse Foundation on this project and congratulates the Foundation on the approval of ISO/IEC 20237,” said Phil Wennblom, Chairman of JTC 1. “JTC 1 looks forward to continuing this collaboration in the future.”.
The ISO/IEC international standards are the global benchmark for companies, manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers seeking approval and validation of security features, quality measures, and interoperability. By becoming an ISO/IEC standard, a technology establishes itself as a globally recognized technical ecosystem and benefits from global acceptance of its products, accelerated adoption, and a broader market presence.
The Sparkplug® Working Group is simultaneously launching a product compatibility program for Sparkplug implementers. This program will ensure that Sparkplug-compatible products and implementations demonstrate a high degree of compatibility and interoperability.
