SaMD

Gary Hinson

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Sep 3, 2025, 1:55:05 AMSep 3

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I bumped into an obscure acronym this week: SaMD ...

It's an example of a particular term defined in laws and regs within a specific/narrow field, in this case medical devices - not my specialism so it took a little Googling to find.

"Software as a" something is usually abbreviated to Saa* but not SaMD, oh no, just the one 'a'. Perhaps caught by the letter tax, or more likely some legal pro drafting legislation who took a liking to "SaMD".

I'm reluctant to get too far into legal terms in the hyperglossary for all sorts of reasons but this one seems to 'have legs' as we say.

I get the proofs to check in a few days. Looking forward to seeing how it will look on paper.

Kind regards/Ngā mihi,

Gary

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Gary Hinson CEO of IsecT Ltd

Information risk and security consulting

ISO27k Audit ISMS templates and policies
Pragmatic Security Metrics (with Krag Brotby)
Cybersecurity Hyperglossary (forthcoming!)

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Joel McLean

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Sep 3, 2025, 3:58:26 AMSep 3

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Here’s one I wonder if you have in your list, Gary, one that’s been my cross to bear for a little while:

Portable Electronic Device (or PED)

Depending on who you ask, typically, it’s a PED if it’s capable of

electronically storing information OR
electronically transmitting information (via RF or IR)
AND
It’s designed to be portable.

Things you expect to be a PED:

Mobile Phone
Laptop
Tablet

Things you wouldn’t be surprised to be a PED, but are, and are annoying in No PED Zones:

Wireless Headphones/Headsets
Wireless Earbuds
Smartwatches
Smartglasses

Things that everyone was surprised is a PED, and has become a logistical nightmare in No Ped Zones:

Remote FOB Car Keys.
Some Medical Devices (SaMD is what made me think of this) such as Most Hearing Aides

There’s a few other classifications of device that are similar to PED, but this one holds a special place in hell for it’s unique scope in the Information Security space, and how controls that apply to PEDs need to be very well thought out!

Kind Regards,

Joel McLean – Micron21 Pty Ltd

From: hyperg...@googlegroups.com <hyperg...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Gary Hinson
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Subject: [SOCIAL NETWORK] [Hyperglossary] SaMD

I bumped into an obscure acronym this week: SaMD ...

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Gary Hinson

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Sep 3, 2025, 2:04:09 PMSep 3

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Good one Joel, thanks for that.

Closest I had was "thing" as in IoT, but some things are fixed, not portable,

Who defines & uses "PED"? Sound like the kind of thing the military would be concerned about entering their SCIFs/No Ped Zones, as well as the usual IoT security concerns.

Kind regards/Ngā mihi,

Gary

PS Despite wearing hearing aids, having RF key fobs and supposedly being an infosec pro, you're right: I didn't immediately think of them as PEDs

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Gary Hinson CEO of IsecT Ltd

Information risk and security consulting

ISO27k Audit ISMS templates and policies
Pragmatic Security Metrics (with Krag Brotby)
Cybersecurity Hyperglossary (forthcoming!)

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To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/hyperglossary/b717983183994288b413107234da33f8%40micron21.com.

Gary Hinson

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Sep 3, 2025, 2:16:19 PMSep 3

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I found an entry for "Portable end-user device", citing the CIS Controls definition that mentions "laptops and mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets" - no keyfobs noted.

I'll add an entry for "Portable Electronic Device (PED)" and expand the range of examples.

Google suggests PEDs are of concern on aircraft. I imagine a large passenger jet has enough PEDs aboard, aside from the cockpit comms, to act as a beacon for missiles. Scary stuff!

Kind regards/Ngā mihi,

Gary

________________________________________

Gary Hinson CEO of IsecT Ltd

Information risk and security consulting

ISO27k Audit ISMS templates and policies
Pragmatic Security Metrics (with Krag Brotby)
Cybersecurity Hyperglossary (forthcoming!)

________________________________________

Gary Hinson

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Sep 3, 2025, 3:11:48 PMSep 3

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Voila!

It's a challenge to keep up with "hi-tech": I no longer have any casette players/recorders about the place but I'm pretty sure there is an MP3 player and Minidisk festering in the junk pile behind me, plus a discarded vape patiently waiting on the desk for 'exploratory dissembly'. I wonder what else will appear terribly dated by the time my definition is published - besides me, that is? 😃

Thanks again for the suggestion, Joel.

Kind regards/Ngā mihi,

Gary

________________________________________

Gary Hinson CEO of IsecT Ltd

Information risk and security consulting

ISO27k Audit ISMS templates and policies
Pragmatic Security Metrics (with Krag Brotby)
Cybersecurity Hyperglossary (forthcoming!)

________________________________________