Today, AirMap announces Drone ID, a partnership with DigiCert that will enable, for the first time, instant authentication of an unmanned aircraft’s identity certificate.

Drone ID is a major step forward for drone security, laying the groundwork for a future in which millions of drones can share the airspace safely and efficiently.

Drone ID is a publicly trusted SSL/TLS certificate issued by AirMap and DigiCert.

Drone operators that register their drone online will receive a digital Drone ID certificate, including a unique, validated aircraft identity number that can be loaded onto the drone and shared with others in the drone ecosystem.

(AirMap is making drones a part of everyday life by building the airspace management system of the future. Courtesy of AirMap and YouTube)

Drone ID will first be available for drones built with the Intel® Aero Platform for Developers, including the Intel Aero Ready to Fly Drone.

“Think of Drone ID like any form of identification you have in your wallet,” AirMap Chief Information Security Officer Jared Ablon said.

“If you show your driver’s license at airport security, they don’t need to call the DMV to verify. Drone ID works the same way, providing drones with an aircraft identity that has been authenticated by trusted authorities.”

Drone ID is the first program of its kind, and a necessary step towards achieving efficient and secure communication from drone to drone, between drones and other aircraft, and with platforms providing airspace information and services.

When an aircraft with Drone ID shares its identity, there is no need to query a third party to verify, enabling more efficient data exchange between airspace stakeholders.

Drone ID will be certified by AirMap and DigiCert, a security solutions provider that provides scalable identity, authentication and encryption for web servers and other connected devices.

DigiCert provides high-volume certificate issuance and management for leading organizations in healthcare, technology, industrial operations, finance, manufacturing, education, transportation, telecommunications and government.

“AirMap’s partnership with DigiCert brings a new level of security to the drone ecosystem,” AirMap CTO Daniel Rubio said.

“Identity verification – delivered by Drone ID – is a critical part of the airspace infrastructure that will support drone operations at scale and bring countless benefits to our everyday lives.”

AirMap is the world’s leading airspace services platform for unmanned aircraft. Developed by experts in technology, aviation and policy, AirMap’s family of APIs and SDKs are used by nearly 90% of the worlds drones to exchange dynamic information, creating a safe and efficient environment in low-altitude airspace.

“The growing number of connected devices in our world requires scalable security solutions that use identity, strong authentication and encryption,” said DigiCert CTO Dan Timpson.

“Our work with AirMap is advancing secure drone operations and aircraft safety into a new era and is part of our focus across all industries to serve the security needs of new and emerging markets, including the Internet of Things.”

Drone ID will be available in the first quarter of 2017. Developers who purchase an Intel Aero Ready to Fly Drone or the Intel Aero Compute Board will be the first to have the opportunity to register for Drone ID.

AirMap is the world’s leading airspace management platform for unmanned aircraft, commonly known as drones.

Developed by experts in drone technology, aviation, and policy, AirMap delivers accurate, reliable, and trustworthy low-altitude navigational data and communication tools to the drone industry: inventors of drones & drone technology, drone operators, and airspace stakeholders.

DigiCert is a leading provider of scalable security solutions for a connected world. The most innovative companies, including the majority of the Global 2000, choose DigiCert for its expertise in identity, authentication and encryption for web servers and Internet of Things devices.

DigiCert supports SSL/TLS and other digital certificates for PKI deployments at any scale through its certificate lifecycle management platform, CertCentral®.

The company has been recognized with dozens of awards for its enterprise-grade management platform, fast and knowledgeable customer support, and market-leading growth.