LOS ANGELES – The Trusted Partner Network (TPN), the Motion Picture Association’s (MPA) global content security initiative, has announced the upcoming launch of its next-generation Shield tier system, which is scheduled for implementation in early September. The new system is designed to increase transparency, elevate security standards and drive continuous improvement for content security across the media & entertainment supply chain.
The new Shield model introduces two new tiers - Silver and Gold Star - which build on the legacy of the Classic Gold Shield by recognizing a service provider’s completion and TPN’s review of security gaps identified during the TPN assessment process. The newly unveiled next-gen tiers — Blue, Silver, Gold and Gold Star — replace the legacy classic Blue and Gold Shield designations. This new system goes into effect with the TPN+ release of the V.5.3.1 TPN questionnaires and assessments in which each Shield tier is prominently displayed in the TPN+ registry. All Classic TPN Gold Shields will remain valid until their expiration dates.
The four-tier system reflects a service provider’s current security status. The Blue Shield represents self-assessment that was completed and published. The Silver Shield signifies that assessment has been completed and a remediation plan has been submitted (formerly Classic Gold). The Gold Shield represents All Best Practice remediation items completed and reviewed by TPN. And the Gold Star Shield means All Best Practice and Additional Recommendations completed and reviewed by TPN.
“The new Shield structure gives content owners clearer visibility into the security readiness and remediation progress of vendors and partners — essential in today’s evolving threat landscape,” notes TPN (www.ttpn.org) president, Terri Davies. “This update is a pivotal step forward for content security and builds on the value TPN provides for its members.”
The new framework has already drawn positive feedback from leaders of TPN’s member studios. One major studio executive noted that the new TPN Shield tiers provide them with faster, clearer insight into vendor security, enhancing the efficiency of their review process.