The Trusted Partner Network plans to launch a new Shield tier system to increase transparency and elevate security standards across the media and entertainment supply chain.
The Trusted Partner Network (TPN), the Motion Picture Association’s (MPA) global content security initiative, will soon launch a new Shield tier system, scheduled for early September 2025. The system is designed to increase transparency and elevate security standards across the media and entertainment supply chain.
The new Shield model introduces two new tiers, Silver and Gold Star, which build on the Classic Gold Shield by recognising a Service Provider’s completion of the TPN assessment process, and TPN’s review of security gaps identified during that process. The new tiers - Blue, Silver, Gold, and Gold Star - replace the earlier Blue and Gold Shield designations.
This new system, based on four tiers, goes into effect with the TPN+ release of the v5.3.1 TPN questionnaires and assessments. The tiers are used to reflect a Service Provider’s current security status.
Blue Shield shows that self-assessment is completed and published. Silver Shield (formerly Classic Gold) indicates that assessment has been completed and a remediation plan submitted. Gold Shield recognises that all Best Practice remediation items are completed and reviewed by TPN, and Gold Star Shield means that all Best Practice and Additional Recommendations have been completed and reviewed by TPN.
Each Shield tier is to be prominently displayed in the TPN+ Registry, and all Classic TPN Gold Shields will remain valid until their expiration dates.
“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,” said Terri Davies, President of TPN. “This update is a pivotal step forward for content security and builds on the value TPN provides for its members.”
TPN says the new framework is already drawing positive feedback from leaders of TPN’s member studios. One major studio executive noted that the new TPN Shield tiers provide them faster, clearer insight into vendor security, enhancing the efficiency of their review process.
Primary benefits of the new Shield tiers include greater greater transparency into remediation progress, intended to lead to faster, more informed decision-making for content owners. It achieves scalable recognition of security maturity, incentivized continuous improvement and better alignment with evolving global threats.
This update underscores TPN’s commitment to strengthening content security and reinforcing trust throughout the production and distribution ecosystem.
More about the new Shield tiers and updated TPN+ Platform is available at www.ttpn.org.
