December 2025: Key Information Technology Standards You Need to Know

Information technology professionals face a rapidly changing landscape—where new regulations, innovative requirements, and digital transformation create both challenge and opportunity. In December 2025, five major international standards have been published, shaping how organizations approach compliance, digital accessibility, connected media, earth observation, and cabling infrastructure. This guide breaks down each new standard in detail, outlining what’s changed, who is affected, and how your business can benefit from implementation.

Overview

Information Technology is the backbone of our digital economy, touching everything from global eCommerce and cloud services, to data analytics, telecom, and industrial automation. In this fast-moving sector, adopting the latest international standards is essential for ensuring interoperability, regulatory compliance, and technical excellence.

The five standards highlighted in this December 2025 release represent a cross-section of priority areas:

• Digital VAT reporting & eInvoicing compliance
• Accessible and flexible user interfaces
• Secure IoT media interoperability
• Reliable remote sensing for geospatial applications
• Precision optical cabling testing

Whether you’re an enterprise architect, quality manager, compliance specialist, engineer, or research leader, these updates offer actionable insights for boosting competitiveness and meeting new global requirements.

Detailed Standards Coverage

CEN/TR 16931-9:2025 – VAT Reporting and eInvoicing Gap Analysis

Electronic invoicing – Part 9: VAT reporting and gap analysis with current eInvoicing standardization deliverables

The European Union’s "VAT in the Digital Age" (ViDA) initiative is reshaping the regulatory landscape for electronic invoicing and digital VAT reporting. CEN/TR 16931-9:2025 serves as a technical report mapping the legislative impact of ViDA on existing eInvoicing standards (led by EN 16931-1), analyzing gaps, and identifying necessary changes to support near real-time VAT reporting for intra-EU transactions.

• Scope: Defines how ViDA mandates affect the core EN 16931-1 standard, focusing on the data subset needed for tax authorities and required adjustments to existing deliverables.
• Key Requirements: Guides EU member states and businesses in adjusting workflows for digital reporting, clarifies the subset of invoice data to be included in Digital Reporting Requirements (DRR, not a full invoice), and notes that the DRR message does not have to comply with all Core Invoice Usage Specification rules.
• Who Needs to Comply: All organizations engaged in cross-border trade within the EU, including territories with VAT obligations (notably, goods trading with Northern Ireland).
• Practical Implications: Organizations must adapt eInvoicing solutions to produce the DRR data subset for authorities, prepare for real-time intra-EU workflow changes, and understand upcoming extensions or amendments to EN 16931-1.
• Notable Changes: This standard supersedes CEN/TR 16931-9:2024 and aligns workflows with the upcoming 2030 eInvoicing default deadline.

Key highlights:

• Clear mapping of ViDA’s regulatory impact on EN 16931 series
• Defines scope for DRR messages and what is (and isn’t) required
• Establishes groundwork for further technical specification of VAT eReporting

Access the full standard:View CEN/TR 16931-9:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO/IEC 22121-3:2025 – Virtual Keyboard Interactions

Information technology – Virtual keyboards user interfaces – Part 3: Virtual keyboards interactions

With the proliferation of devices—from traditional desktops to kiosks and mobile screens—virtual (software-based) keyboards have become indispensable, especially for accessibility. ISO/IEC 22121-3:2025 sets out comprehensive guidelines for the design and implementation of accessible virtual keyboards, focusing on diverse interaction modes and integration with assistive technologies.

• Scope: Prescribes required functions, interaction modes, and assistive technology compatibility for virtual keyboards across platforms.
• Key Requirements: Covers automatic and manual scanning, direct and gestural pointing, tactile and auditory feedback, pictographic keyboards, and the means to bind various assistive technologies (e.g., screen readers, switch access).
• Who Needs to Comply: Developers and manufacturers of operating systems, kiosks, mobile devices, and specialized accessibility tools for users with visual, motoric, or cognitive support needs.
• Practical Implications: Incorporating these requirements ensures products meet international accessibility standards, reduce legal risk, and significantly improve inclusivity.
• Notable Changes: Establishes standardized approaches for feedback, scanning speeds, selection validation, and navigation key integration for virtual keyboards—not applicable to physical hardware keyboards.

Key highlights:

• Addressing accessibility for users with varied abilities
• Standard modes including scanning, pointing, gestural, thumb, written, and pictographic
• Requirements for seamless integration with assistive technologies

Access the full standard:View ISO/IEC 22121-3:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO/IEC 23093-2:2025 – Internet of Media Things: API Discovery & Communication

Information technology – Internet of media things – Part 2: Discovery and communication application programming interface (API)

The Internet of Media Things (IoMT) is a rapidly growing domain where media devices interact as intelligent entities—enabling use cases like distributed video processing, smart displays, remote sensors, and more. ISO/IEC 23093-2:2025 defines the core APIs for device (MThing) discovery, connection, disconnection, and secure transactions (e.g., payments using media tokens) in IoMT ecosystems.

• Scope: Specifies the abstract class "MThing" as the fundamental unit in IoMT, detailing APIs for device discovery by capability, communication, resource reservation, and token-based transactions.
• Key Requirements: Implementation of standardized API methods for searching devices (e.g., media sensors, cameras), negotiating service costs, handling payments via token systems (e.g., cryptocurrency), and managing streaming or data access securely.
• Who Needs to Comply: Developers of IoT media devices and platforms, integrators of multi-device environments (smart homes, surveillance, commercial media networks), and application providers leveraging distributed media resources.
• Practical Implications: Facilitates plug-and-play interoperability, simplifies application development, and secures resource transactions. State channel payment models and robust error handling address real-world connectivity and billing challenges.
• Notable Changes: Expanded APIs for new communication and discovery use cases, integration with blockchain-enabled micropayments, and robust capability/resource management.

Key highlights:

• Unified APIs for discovering and linking media devices
• Secure transaction flows for media data and services
• State channel support for real-time payments and service reliability

Access the full standard:View ISO/IEC 23093-2:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO/TS 19124-2:2025 – Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Calibration & Validation

Geographic information – Calibration and validation of remote sensing data and derived products – Part 2: Synthetic aperture radar (SAR)

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors provide vital, high-resolution earth observation data for numerous applications, from disaster response to environmental monitoring. ISO/TS 19124-2:2025 specifies rigorous procedures for calibrating and validating SAR-acquired data and all associated derived geospatial products.

• Scope: Establishes a universal methodology to calibrate (geometrically, radiometrically, and characteristically) SAR sensor data, and to validate the quality and accuracy of both raw and processed outputs.
• Key Requirements: Addresses the correction of data characteristics for quantitative and qualitative uses, specification of associated calibration/validation metadata, and comparison methods for products across supplier and sensor types. Excludes sensor hardware calibration (covered by ISO/TS 19159-3).
• Who Needs to Comply: Remote sensing satellite operators, geoscience labs, environmental monitoring agencies, and commercial earth observation service providers using SAR data.
• Practical Implications: Ensures EO data quality, enables product interoperability, and provides a framework for validation scenarios (including advanced polarimetric or multi-temporal SAR analysis).
• Notable Changes: Coordinated with ISO/TC 211 and CEN/TC 287 for harmonized European and global implementation, including new guidance on multi-dimensional SAR.

Key highlights:

• Comprehensive calibration process for various SAR working modes
• Transparent validation of product quality and interoperability
• Detailed metadata guidelines for calibration/validation

Access the full standard:View ISO/TS 19124-2:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 50174-4:2025 – Testing of Installed Optical Fibre Cabling

Information technology – Cabling installation – Part 4: Testing of installed optical fibre cabling

Reliable cabling infrastructure is the physical foundation for every IT network. EN 50174-4:2025 provides detailed specifications for the inspection and testing of installed optical fibre cabling in line with the latest premises cabling standards (notably the EN 50173 series). This standard references proven, existing test procedures to ensure interoperability and performance.

• Scope: Defines required test methodologies (light source/power meter, OTDR), equipment characteristics, documentation standards, and pass/fail criteria for optical fibre installations.
• Key Requirements: Covers test equipment specs, cleaning procedures for connectors, attenuation measurements (LSPM, OTDR), return loss, polarity, length verification, and the use of reference connectors/test cords. Emphasis on quality planning (Annex B) and management of non-compliant results.
• Who Needs to Comply: Cabling contractors, network engineers, data center operators, quality managers responsible for installation and maintenance of enterprise or campus-wide fibre infrastructure.
• Practical Implications: Ensures high network reliability through standardized optical cable testing, minimizes defects, and streamlines certification. Enables adherence to both European and global interoperability requirements.
• Notable Changes: This edition updates procedures and harmonizes terminology/practices with other international and regional standards.

Key highlights:

• Standard test procedures for all types of fibre cabling installations
• Clear documentation and quality plan templates
• Direct alignment with latest premises cabling requirements

Access the full standard:View EN 50174-4:2025 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

Compliance with these standards is not simply a regulatory checkbox—it's critical for competitiveness, interoperability, risk reduction, and operational efficiency.

• VAT and eInvoicing (CEN/TR 16931-9:2025): Organizations trading within the EU must overhaul invoicing systems to support ViDA’s digital VAT reporting—failure to do so could result in penalties, delayed payments, or lost market access.
• Accessibility (ISO/IEC 22121-3:2025): Building universally accessible software isn’t just ethical; it reduces legal exposure and broadens market reach. Conformance unlocks global procurement opportunities.
• IoMT Interoperability (ISO/IEC 23093-2:2025): Unified APIs allow faster device integration and monetized services, crucial for IoT business models.
• Geospatial Data (ISO/TS 19124-2:2025): Standardized calibration ensures data trustworthiness—vital for disaster management, climate science, and smart cities alike.
• Cabling (EN 50174-4:2025): Thorough testing guarantees uptime and performance in data centers, enterprises, and critical infrastructure; inadequate testing can expose businesses to costly outages.

Compliance Timeline Tips:

• Assess current systems and processes for alignment
• Review standard-specific grace periods or transitional measures
• Train staff and update documentation
• Partner with accredited labs and certified professionals as necessary

Benefits of Adoption:

• Legal and contractual compliance
• International market access
• Improved risk management
• Enhanced product reliability and accessibility
• Streamlined integration and maintenance

Risks of Non-compliance:

• Fines or regulatory enforcement actions (especially in financial/tax or accessibility domains)
• Lost business opportunities due to ineligibility or failure in certification audits
• Increased maintenance and integration costs
• Reputational harm

Technical Insights

While each standard targets a unique technical area, a few cross-cutting themes emerge:

• Documentation and Traceability: All standards demand rigorous documentation—whether it’s for audit trails (VAT reporting), calibration metadata, or cabling test results.
• Interoperability: From eInvoicing formats to IoT discovery APIs and EO data comparability, harmonization enables plug-and-play integration and cross-border operations.
• Training and Certification: Staff upskilling is essential—be it software accessibility compliance, fiber testing, or blockchain-enabled media transactions.

Implementation Best Practices:

1. Gap Analysis: Use checklists to identify technical, organizational, and workflow adjustments needed to close compliance gaps.
2. Pilot Testing: Roll out changes in controlled environments before scaling across your enterprise.
3. Automation: Automate processes like VAT reporting, accessibility scanning, and network testing wherever feasible.
4. Continuous Review: Stay current with amendments, technical corrigenda, and evolving compliance deadlines.

Testing & Certification Considerations:

• Leverage accredited labs for SAR calibration/validation or fiber cabling tests
• Use self-assessment tools for software conformance
• Integrate extended APIs and data fields incrementally, confirming backward compatibility

Conclusion & Next Steps

December 2025’s information technology standards advances signal a defining moment for IT leaders striving to meet new regulatory demands, improve technical resilience, and unlock business value. From secure digital transactions and accessible user interfaces to robust infrastructure and high-quality geospatial intelligence, these standards establish the new baseline for global excellence.

Key takeaways:

• Regulatory momentum in digital VAT/eInvoicing mandates rapid adaptation
• Accessibility is paramount in digital user interface design
• IoMT API standardization powers secure, interoperable media services
• SAR calibration/validation underpins data trust across critical application areas
• Fibre cabling testing standards safeguard network performance

Recommendations for Organizations:

• Review and update your standards inventory and compliance roadmap
• Invest in employee training targeting new/revised requirements
• Reach out to trusted standards providers, such as iTeh Standards, for the latest documentation and implementation guidance

Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date by regularly exploring new releases and best practices on iTeh Standards, and subscribe to alerts for continued evolution in the information technology landscape.

For further details and access to all standards covered in this update, visit each individual standard’s page linked above on iTeh Standards.