The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the most active and fascinating innovations in information and communications technology. Although networking technologies have become more widely used in recent years, they were formerly limited to connecting traditional end-user devices such as mainframes, desktop PCs, and, more lately, smartphones and tablets.
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers
to the growing use of unique identifiers on objects and entities (things) to
send data across a network. Computers, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication,
sensors, smart energy grids, vehicle-to-vehicle communications, smart buildings
and homes, and wearable gadgets contribute to the rise in IoT communication.
Due to this technological wave, more and more elements of our lives are becoming connected to the internet. Over 25 billion gadgets are expected to be connected in the next few years, and according to Forbes, the Internet of Things business will rise greatly by 2025. All of these connections are intended to improve our daily lives, but when you consider that even your television is collecting and transmitting your personal data, things may become a little frightening.
The importance of the IoT
Influence is the most important
aspect of the IoT. Rather than simply exchanging data, the Industrial IoT
connects devices, systems, and people in real-life environments like automated
factories, smart cities, and connected healthcare to improve productivity.
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is described as the automated interaction among smart devices and systems, exchanging data to an offsite or cloud-based solution for meaningful, time-sensitive analytics using components that consume very little energy, are easy to install and follow industry standards. Traditional embedded systems, which have grown from isolated systems to a network of connected objects and systems, are at the center of this phenomenon.
How secure is IoT?
IoT entails connecting an ecosystem
of unconnected devices, resources, and processes to the internet. With improved
computing capabilities and lower prices for connectivity and data storage, the
number of linked devices is expected to reach 41.6 billion by 2025, creating
almost 79.4 ZB of data. The rapid expansion of connectivity, on the other hand,
will expose IoT devices, sensors, and platforms to significant security
concerns. As businesses attempt to integrate their old OT systems with their IT
systems correctly, numerous IoT security frameworks have been developed to
reduce security breaches, data loss, and financial losses. So, here are the
steps to securing the IoT devices in an organization.
Enable device discovery for full
visibility
A company should first determine how
many IoT devices are connected to its network. You should determine which
devices are connected to your network and keep an inventory of all connected
assets, ideally using a dedicated IoT security solution to ensure all devices
are identified. Take note of the device manufacturer, model ID, serial number,
software, firmware, and underlying operating system and configuration. Analyze
the risk profile of each connected device in the network and its behavior. Such
profiles will help with creating firewall policies and segmentation. Whenever a
new IoT device is connected to the network, you should update your asset map.
Enabling network segmentation can be
used for stronger defense
Segmenting networks is a technique
for allowing granular control over the lateral movement of traffic among
devices and workloads within them. A single compromise event is more likely to
spread laterally in an unsegmented network where many endpoints communicate
directly without any partitioning in place. The more segmented a network is,
the less likely hackers are to be able to use a device as a single point of
concession to launch exploits laterally.
Use secure passwords
Password-related assaults on IoT
devices continue to be fueled by poor password security practices. Maintaining
robust password security is therefore essential for securing your IoT devices.
Many IoT devices come pre-programmed with weak passwords that are easily found
online. It's excellent practice to replace an IoT device's default password
with a safe, more difficult one as soon as it's connected to your network. The
new password should be hard to guess, distinct for each secured device, and
follow the password standards and management procedures of your IT security
team.
Always keep an eye on IoT devices
Real-time monitoring, reporting, and alerting are essential for enterprises to manage their IoT risks. Traditional endpoint security solutions cannot secure IoT assets because they need software agents that IoT devices cannot accept. Take a more strategic approach. Implement a real-time monitoring solution that integrates easily with your current security posture and the next firewall investment to continuously examine the behavior of all your network-connected IoT endpoints.
Final words
Connecting an ecosystem of unconnected devices, resources, and processes to the internet is what the Internet of Things (IoT) is all about. Over 25 billion devices are expected to be connected in the next few years. Major security vulnerabilities in IoT devices, sensors, and platforms will be exposed as the connection expands rapidly. The number of IoT devices connected to a company's network should be determined, and all connected assets should be inventoried. It's crucial to keep your IoT devices safe by using strong passwords. Analyze the risk profile and behavior of each connected device in the network. If you are willing to learn more about the IoT and its security, check out InfosecTrain for the best courses.
