Information Technology Standards Summary – May 2025 Overview

Looking back at May 2025, the Information Technology and Office Equipment sector saw the publication of an impactful new standard targeting the rapidly evolving domain of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and drone operations. This monthly summary spotlights the only Information Technology standard released during the period—ISO/IEC 22460-1:2025—and explores its significance for global regulatory efforts, technological advancement, and industry adoption. For professionals seeking to secure operational compliance and remain ahead in the dynamic landscape of personal identification and cybersecurity, this analysis provides a detailed and retrospective perspective on why this development matters.

Monthly Overview: May 2025

May 2025 brought a focused yet consequential addition to the Information Technology standards library. Unlike some months with a diverse range of publications, this period’s activity centered around the growing intersection of identification technology and emergent aviation paradigms—specifically, UAS and drone licensing. The emphasis on a single, comprehensive standard suggests a deliberate prioritization by standards bodies to address regulatory, operational, and technological challenges in commercial and recreational drone usage worldwide.

This singular release—ISO/IEC 22460-1:2025—echoes industry-wide demands for harmonized credentialing and robust security, reflecting both regulatory catch-up and technological leadership. Its publication signals that, as drone operations expand into new domains (urban air mobility, cargo delivery, cross-border operations), the need for universally recognized, secure, and interoperable identification frameworks is paramount. The depth and scope of this standard set the tone for subsequent regulatory and engineering efforts industry-wide.

Standards Published This Month

ISO/IEC 22460-1:2025 – Physical Characteristics and Basic Data Sets for UAS Licence

Cards and Security Devices for Personal Identification – ISO UAS Licence and Drone or UAS Security Module – Part 1: Physical Characteristics and Basic Data Sets for UAS Licence

ISO/IEC 22460-1:2025 establishes stringent requirements and recommendations for designing, standardizing, and securing remote pilot and crew licences for drones and UAS. The scope of the standard encompasses both the physical card (ID-1 format) and the essential human-readable and machine-readable data sets, laying a global foundation for cross-border recognition and security assurance in unmanned aviation.

The standard is responsive to a rapidly expanding ecosystem where remote pilot licences, much like driver’s licences, must authenticate operators and increase accountability—yet also accommodate the distinct realities of aviation: multi-tier operational categories, evolving aircraft classes, and heightened security requirements. Not all jurisdictions require such licences, but ISO/IEC 22460-1:2025 creates a reference point for those seeking international harmonization.

Key Features and Requirements:

• Defines the minimum mandatory and optional data elements for UAS licences, covering visually human-readable and digitally machine-readable content.
• Adopts the ID-1 card size for physical licences, enabling compatibility with global identification card infrastructure.
• Integrates security features—physical (e.g., holograms), electronic (contact/contactless chips per ISO/IEC 7816 and ISO/IEC 14443), and cryptographic—to ensure authenticity and resist forgery or alteration.
• Details a multi-tiered licensing structure (TG1–TG6), mapped to UAS mass, operational area (VLOS, EVLOS, BVLOS), and complexity.
• Supports both domestic and international use, allowing for regional data elements and security enhancements while preserving interoperability.
• Specifies procedures for secure issuance, storage, and authentication—emphasizing the linkage between the licence and a secure Drone or UAS Security Module (DSM) able to carry cryptographic credentials and operational permissions.

Target Audience:

• UAS/drone operators
• Aviation authorities, regulators, and licensing agencies
• Technology, security, and card manufacturers
• Compliance and operations management in commercial drone fleets
• Organizations integrating unmanned aerial systems into business processes

Integration and Regulatory Context: ISO/IEC 22460-1:2025 aligns with a suite of cross-referenced standards, including ISO/IEC 7810 (ID card physical characteristics), ISO/IEC 7816 (integrated circuit cards), ISO 21895 (UAS categorization), ISO 23629-8 (remote identification), and ISO/IEC 19794-5/39794-5 (biometric data). This foundational interoperability is crucial as regulatory environments evolve and diversify globally. Its multi-layered security measures directly address increasing concerns around cyber-attacks, forgeries, and the requirement for real-time, machine-verifiable credentials.

Notable Features:

• Enables global interoperability of remote pilot licences for UAS, increasing cross-border operational certainty.
• Elevates license security while supporting futureproofing for biometrics, mobile IDs, and evolving cryptographic needs.
• Harmonizes the presentation and digital structuring of credentials, closing the gap between national regulatory variations and international operational demands.

Access the full standard:View ISO/IEC 22460-1:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

While only one Information Technology standard was published in May 2025, it epitomizes several industry-defining trends:

• Ramp-up in Unmanned Aviation Regulation: As drones and UAS permeate commercial, recreational, and public service sectors (from logistics to urban mobility), authorities are converging on international standards to ensure safe pilot identification and flight authorization.
• Identity Security Convergence: Physical and digital security requirements are increasingly intertwined. ISO/IEC 22460-1:2025's dual emphasis on human- and machine-verifiability exemplifies industry-wide moves to counter both physical and cyber risks.
• Cross-Border Harmonization: The framework supports interoperability between nations, anticipating drone operations that span regulatory jurisdictions and requiring credentials that travel seamlessly with pilots and crew.
• Future-Proofing and Flexibility: Support for mobile, biometric, cryptographic, and optional national data elements indicates a recognition of diverse regulatory environments and the rapid evolution of identification technology.
• Focus on Tiered, Risk-Based Licensing: Much like traditional aviation or vehicle licensing, UAS credentials are now moving toward complexity- and risk-based models, ensuring that operator authorizations are proportional to technical and operational risk.

The publication of ISO/IEC 22460-1:2025 also coincides with the broadening expectations of stakeholders: insurers, law enforcement, civil aviation authorities, and commercial entities are all demanding verifiable, easily transferable credentials to safeguard operations, mitigate risk, and enable trust in digital skies.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For organizations and regulatory bodies affected by ISO/IEC 22460-1:2025, several actionable steps are recommended:

• Initial Assessment: Evaluate existing licence issuance and remote pilot credentialing processes to measure alignment with new ISO requirements, both at the data element and security protocol levels.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with regulators, card/device manufacturers, and IT/security departments to plan for phased adoption of the standard, paying special attention to cross-disciplinary interoperability (physical cards, mobile apps, cryptographic stores).
• Timeline Alignment: While implementation timelines will vary by jurisdiction and organizational capacity, aligning procurement, IT system updates, and training with the standard's requirements is critical. Early adoption may also streamline regulatory approvals for broader drone operations.
• Security Upgrades: Prioritize upgrading card issuance and management systems to incorporate machine-readable and cryptographic security features per ISO/IEC 7816 and 14443, and ensure any integrated biometric systems comply with referenced standards.
• Training and Awareness: Ensure personnel responsible for credential issuance, management, and verification are familiar with the new standard’s structure, security expectations, and operational nuances.
• Resources: For full details, organizations are encouraged to review the complete standard and supplemental references. Consultation with national authorities and international organizations (ISO, ICAO, EASA) will provide additional guidance as jurisdiction-specific implementations evolve.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from May 2025

May 2025 underscored the critical role of global standards in the safe, secure, and scalable adoption of drones and UAS across industries. The publication of ISO/IEC 22460-1:2025 introduces an advanced and harmonized credentialing framework, blending proven identity card paradigms with the unique demands of unmanned aviation and digital security. For Information Technology professionals, compliance officers, and operational leaders, understanding and implementing this standard will be foundational in ensuring regulatory readiness, supply chain alignment, and operational flexibility in a future where drone technology is ubiquitous.

Industry stakeholders are advised to:

• Prioritize the transition to ISO-compliant credentialing workflows for UAS operations
• Monitor national and regional adoption timelines
• Engage proactively with best-practice security and interoperability solutions

Staying current with these evolving standards through resources like iTeh Standards is not only a compliance imperative but also offers competitive advantage and operational assurance in a rapidly digitizing and interconnected world.