Common Challenges of IoT Security and Ways to Address Them
So, you’ve already deployed agents to all of your desktops and servers. You’ve built your next-generation security operation center (SOC) with advanced analytics. But what if adversaries have found a new kind of attack vector, the one that allows them to bypass existing controls and gain access to corporate networks? We’re talking about Internet of Things development, which is no part of any successful business growth strategy, and Internet-connected devices in particular.
It’s true that IoT devices simplify our lives and make organizations more efficient, that is why you can find them everywhere today. Smart building management systems, IT and office equipment, lab, and clinical testing devices, smart retail devices, logistics and warehousing systems, smartwatches, gaming consoles, and many more gadgets are now empowered by the omnipotent IoT. Still, as with any technology, IoT also provides cyber criminals with more sophisticated tools they can use to steal sensitive information. From today’s article, you’re going to learn more about the challenges of IoT security and some ways to address them effectively.
IoT and Cyber Security Threats
Unlike desktops and servers, IoT devices don’t work with agents. So, they are unmanaged and invisible to your IT team. What’s more, they often have default credentials and other vulnerabilities and they are almost impossible to patch. As a result, in 2022, industries and individual companies are expected to have four to five times the attack surface compared to just a few years ago. Every day, cybercriminals, nation-states, and hacktivists are targeting IoT devices. They are stealing intellectual property and customer data, bringing networks down with ransomware, siphoning CPU cycles for botnets and crypto jacking. Needless to say, such malware is threatening the safety of customers and employees, as well as the overall business performance and reputation.
Some companies rely on vulnerability scanners to address the problem. Still, traditional scanners can bring down the very devices they are meant to protect. That is where the new generation of anti-hacking solutions comes in and saves the day.
Tips to Address IoT Security Challenges
To reduce the probability of exploiting system vulnerabilities and hacking via the IoT, companies use flexible and secure default settings and employ various mechanisms that help reinforce password security and modify the default credentials. What’s more, IT departments and security managers employ the most recent technologies to reduce IoT attack exposure to a minimum. For this, they tap into the power of modern access management tools and adapted IoT identity solutions.
Furthermore, certain steps should be taken to address the problem of insecure interfaces that accounts for almost 20% of data breaches. To tackle this problem, security managers need to make sure their industries are using the latest security standards and protocols and secure access to connected devices. Speech recognition documentation, biometric security tools, network segregation, data encryption, and other solutions can go a long way towards helping your business ward off cyberattacks and maintain relative stability in a volatile security environment.
Today, businesses also avail themselves of the services provided by cybersecurity companies that develop dedicated solutions aimed at protecting Internet-connected systems and safeguarding industries against different types of cyber threats. Not only do such companies supply effective solutions for preventing and handling cyber threats, but also provide helpful guidelines that help you know what to be cautious of. In particular, up-to-date cybersecurity guides can help you learn how agentless technologies can help you strengthen your organization’s cybersecurity. Such guides help keep your business running even without hiring extra resources.
With professional help, you will be able to get deep visibility into your IoT devices and how they communicate with real-time alerts for anomalous or unauthorized activities. Let experts help you protect your IoT network whether it’s in a single location or distributed across hundreds of facilities. It’s all about prioritizing risk mitigation in a way that makes sense for your organization.
So, you’ve already deployed agents to all of your desktops and servers. You’ve built your next-generation security operation center (SOC) with advanced analytics. But what if adversaries have found a new kind of attack vector, the one that allows them to bypass existing controls and gain access to corporate networks? We’re talking about the Internet of Things development, which is no part of any successful business growth strategy, and Internet-connected devices in particular.
It’s true that IoT devices simplify our lives and make organizations more efficient, that is why you can find them everywhere today. Smart building management systems, IT and office equipment, lab, and clinical testing devices, smart retail devices, logistics and warehousing systems, smartwatches, gaming consoles, and many more gadgets are now empowered by the omnipotent IoT. Still, as with any technology, IoT also provides cyber criminals with more sophisticated tools they can use to steal sensitive information. From today’s article, you’re going to learn more about the challenges of IoT security testing and some ways to address them effectively.
IoT and Cyber Security Threats
Unlike desktops and servers, IoT devices don’t work with agents. So, they are unmanaged and invisible to your IT team. What’s more, they often have default credentials and other vulnerabilities and they are almost impossible to patch. As a result, in 2022, industries and individual companies are expected to have four to five times the attack surface compared to just a few years ago. Every day, cybercriminals, nation-states, and hacktivists are targeting IoT devices. They are stealing intellectual property and customer data, bringing networks down with ransomware, siphoning CPU cycles for botnets, and crypto jacking. Needless to say, such malware is threatening the safety of customers and employees, as well as the overall business performance and reputation.
Some companies rely on vulnerability scanners to address the problem. Still, traditional scanners can bring down the very devices they are meant to protect. That is where the new generation of anti-hacking solutions comes in and saves the day.
Tips to Address IoT Security Challenges
To reduce the probability of exploiting system vulnerabilities and hacking via the IoT, companies use flexible and secure default settings and employ various mechanisms that help reinforce password security and modify the default credentials. What’s more, IT departments and security managers employ the most recent technologies to reduce IoT attack exposure to a minimum. For this they tap into the power of modern access management tools and adapted IoT identity solutions.
Furthermore, certain steps should be taken to address the problem of insecure interfaces that accounts for almost 20% of data breaches. To tackle this problem, security managers need to make sure their industries are using the latest security standards and protocols and secure access to connected devices. Speech recognition documentation, biometric security tools, network segregation, data encryption, and other solutions can go a long way towards helping your business ward off cyberattacks and maintain relative stability in a volatile security environment.
Today, businesses also avail themselves of the services provided by cybersecurity companies that develop dedicated solutions aimed at protecting Internet-connected systems and safeguarding industries against different types of cyber threats. Not only do such companies supply effective solutions for preventing and handling cyber threats, but also provide helpful guidelines that help you know what to be cautious of. In particular, up-to-date cybersecurity guides can help you learn how agentless technologies can help you strengthen your organization’s cybersecurity. Such guides help keep your business running even without hiring extra resources.
With professional help, you will be able to get deep visibility into your IoT devices and how they communicate with real-time alerts for anomalous or unauthorized activities. Let experts help you protect your IoT network whether it’s in a single location or distributed across hundreds of facilities. It’s all about prioritizing risk mitigation in a way that makes sense for your organization.
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