In the spring of 2026 the AMRC at the University of Sheffield challenged itself to test a cybersecurity company’s authentication capability, which offered a new way for machines to communicate with each other securely.

The subject of the test was software developed with a new way of authenticating computer networks by allowing devices to speak to each other and build trust between themselves. Instead of having an authentication server which acts as a single point of truth and potentially a single point of failure the product allows the machines themselves to become the source of trust, so if the server is attacked, the devices can authenticate each other instead.

he AMRC was able to showcase Iothic’s technology to the many major companies it works with and provide valuable links and contacts to the startup.

The project with Iothic was another step towards improved global cybersecurity standards, safeguarding businesses and keeping us all connected into the future.