Senate Committee Asks DOD to Improve Cybersecurity for Wearable Devices

The Senate Armed Services Committee wants to ensure the security of the military internet of things amid its growing use and increasing adversary threat.

According to a draft Fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act released by the committee on Monday, the bill would mandate the Department of Defense to include “human-wearable devices, sensors, and other smart technology” in its zero trust framework initiative.

The call comes as military IoT are mostly interconnected, data-rich, sensor-driven devices that usually share information in and out of the battlefield, DefenseScoop reported.

With their increasing use, military IOTs are being targeted by malicious actors for cyberattacks, with a 2025 Center for Strategic and International Studies report calling on the government to prioritize its security.

Amid discussions on securing wearable devices, senators are also calling on the Pentagon to adopt the Defense Information Systems Agency’s Thunderdome zero trust pilot and production contract. The contract uses an open vendor selection process and comprehensive prototyping, enabling organizations to adopt new solutions for a more secure digital environment.