In a Smart Water Magazine interview, Badger Meter leaders detailed cybersecurity practices across metering hardware and software and explained the independent certification earned by the ORIONAE Cellular endpoint. Published on October 14, 2026, the discussion focused on how utilities can assess vendor claims, the company’s end-to-end security approach from meter to cloud, and the operational implications of consolidation and artificial intelligence.
The executives noted that cyber risk has broadened from internal concerns to globally sourced threats, while many legacy assets in the field were never hardened for today’s adversaries. They emphasized that vigilance is now essential as infrastructure advances and the sophistication of attempted intrusions evolves in parallel.
Independent certification for AMI endpoint
Badger Meter pursued third-party validation for its cellular AMI device, resulting in the ORION Cellular endpoint becoming the first smart water device certified under the IoT Network Certified for Smart Connected Infrastructure program in March 2025. The program is operated by Ericsson and CTIA, a U.S. wireless industry association of which Badger Meter is a member. The company underscored its cellular heritage, having introduced the first cellular-based AMI endpoint in 2014 and deployed the technology in the millions over more than a decade.
According to the company, the certification assessed tangible security controls on the device. Specifically, evaluators reviewed:
- Implementation of security features
- Protection of customer information
- Password management practices
- Support for over-the-air security updates
Badger Meter framed the certification as one element of a broader program designed to support AMI investments expected to last 15–20 years. Complementary measures currently in place include:
- Third-party vulnerability testing
- Ongoing software testing during development
- Disaster recovery validation
- ISO 27001 certification
- SOC 2 Type 2 examinations
Data protection from endpoint to software
The company said security is integrated into the ORION Cellular ecosystem from design through operation. Meter readings are encrypted as they travel from the endpoint into utility software applications, and endpoints use secure cellular communications during transmission to reduce exposure while maintaining reliable data delivery.
Badger Meter described the end-to-end path as “low risk by design.” ORION Cellular endpoints leverage large-scale infrastructure provided by public carriers but do not ride the public network. Messages are encrypted from device to software, and the BEACONAE platform layers in security controls that include:
- Best-practice password management
- Multi-factor authentication
- Configurable access levels
The company added that its software and operations undergo annual audits of security posture, requiring evidence of processes being followed and verification that physical facilities meet security expectations. These audits, it said, offer utilities a practical way to verify ongoing adherence to industry-recognized practices.
What utilities should look for
When evaluating cybersecurity claims, the company advised utilities to prioritize third-party certifications from prominent organizations and to weigh proven product history as a signal that solutions have been hardened over time. It also suggested that utilities understand their own use cases well enough to research known vulnerabilities and ask vendors targeted questions.
On supplier selection, the executives observed that new entrants can bring innovation but may lack maturity in components not visible to buyers. They said strong outcomes often result when established suppliers acquire smaller innovators and apply rigorous manufacturing standards and cyber resilience practices across the combined portfolio.
Consolidation and a new network management platform
Looking ahead, the company expects legacy infrastructure to face accelerated end-of-life timelines and utilities to seek fewer vendors to reduce integration overhead and potential attack surfaces. Recent incidents affecting U.S. utilities were cited as adding urgency, with expectations that utilities will request more tailored resilience advice and develop clearer public communications following any breach.
Against this backdrop, Badger Meter introduced OneNetworkA2 in September 2026 as part of its BlueEdgeAE portfolio—a unified network management platform built on BEACON architecture and developed by teams in the United States and United Kingdom. The company characterized its approach as favoring long-lived, reliable designs over rapid, disruptive changes, asserting that durable engineering underpins cyber-resilient hardware and software.
Where AI fits
The company identified artificial intelligence as a major catalyst for operational improvement, likening today’s moment to the early adoption of computing in the workplace. It outlined a conservative stance focused on AI systems that advise rather than directly control processes, maintaining that human expertise remains essential for operational decision-making.
Leaders acknowledged the trade-off: advisory AI without autonomous authority can limit potential gains, a tension they expect to shape industry debates. For now, they said the emphasis remains on giving utility teams clearer visibility into network conditions, surfacing issues before they reach customers, and simplifying use of existing data—capabilities the company described as the essence of OneNetwork.