Struggling with IoT Security Risks? Effective Strategies for a Secure Digital Environment

Since IoT (Internet of Things) technology has become more mainstream, both individuals and businesses have been able to enjoy the convenience and innovation it brings to the table. 

However, much like every disruptive technology, there also comes with it new security vulnerabilities that need to be considered.

Common IoT Security Risks

Even though IoT devices are becoming more common and used every day for a variety of purposes, it’s important to recognize the various security risks they can present. These include:

Data Breaches

Large amounts of data are what help IoT devices function successfully. This information is collected and stored in various states and across multiple locations. 

Unfortunately, many of these out-of-the-box devices have poor security measures in place, making them a prime target for hackers to gain access to them and access anything from personal information to financial details.

Botnets

IoT devices are always connected to the internet and are commonly targeted by hackers to turn them into “bots” that contribute to a large botnet. 

These remotely controlled devices can then be used to launch large-scale, anonymous attacks like Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS). These are often created to manipulate website traffic volume and help take critical networks out of service in a larger effort to compromise connected systems.

Device Manipulation

Unsecured IoT devices are vulnerable to a number of manipulation tactics by hackers. This can include disabling important security features in connected networks or feeding false information to and from other connected devices. 

While many IoT devices may be relatively restrictive when it comes to the information they can provide, they can often become entry points into a network and allow malicious sources to dig deeper into critical systems.

Physical Security Risks

IoT devices support a wide range of business and city infrastructures and are often located in various areas around a city. In many cases, these devices can even be accessible by the public if left unsecured areas.

If malicious individuals are able to access the devices themselves, they’re able to tamper with their hardware directly and allow them to extract data or install malware.

Effective Strategies to Mitigate IoT Risks

While there are certain risks associated with using IoT devices, there are a number of strategies you can apply to mitigate them effectively:

Strong Password Updates

All IoT devices come pre-configured with their own usernames and passwords. While these may vary from model to model, most devices use default naming variables that can be easily bypassed by hackers with access to password deciphering tools.

This is why it’s important to update the default usernames and passwords on all of your IoT devices when they’re set up. You should also practice changing these passwords regularly, as you would with other online platforms you use.

Be sure to use a mix of lowercase and uppercase letters and a balanced amount of letters and numbers. It’s also important to make each device’s credentials unique.

Network Segmentation

When you’re establishing the structure of your network, segmentation can be an important component of minimizing the scale of an attack if one of your devices ever becomes compromised.

Network segmentation is like dividing your home into several rooms. If an intruder were located in one of the rooms, the door could be locked, and the other rooms wouldn’t be affected. The same can be applied to the connected systems that live on your network.

When you segment your network, you’re creating different security zones for various types of devices. This can be achieved by using VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) or a collection of firewalls to help you create different isolation points.

Network segmentation has become more and more important for organizations that need to be able to rely on their systems staying online. When this form of security is implemented, even if an attack successfully compromises a certain database or system, the business can still maintain its operational state while the breach is resolved.

Physical Security Measures

Organizations that use IoT devices need to be concerned not only with their digital security but also with the physical security of the devices they use. This includes paying careful attention to where the devices are located and ensuring adequate measures are put in place to prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing them.

For devices placed outside, secured enclosures or lock boxes should protect them from unauthorized access. Depending on the type of organization these devices support, restricting physical access to certain areas should also be considered, along with surveillance systems that monitor who gains access to them.

Device Monitoring

All of the IoT devices your business uses should be considered to be digital assets and an extension of your network. This means that each device should be actively monitored in order to detect unusual or suspicious activity.

Device monitoring solutions and IoT gateways can be added to your security tech stack to continuously track the behavior of your IoT devices. These solutions can give you real-time visibility of your entire IoT infrastructure, alert you when certain activities happen, and allow you to apply certain risk mitigation strategies proactively.

Firewalls

Using firewalls in your IoT networks can be an effective way to add another layer of security to your connected infrastructure. Firewalls help to filter out incoming and outgoing traffic to and from your devices. This can help you create a powerful network perimeter for all of your devices and minimize the likelihood of any of the devices becoming compromised.

Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) have become the new gold standard when it comes to IoT security. These firewalls are more advanced than traditional firewalls and use features like deep packet inspection and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) to help detect unusual activity in your network and help you mitigate the risks they can bring.

Keep Your IoT Infrastructure Secured

IoT devices offer businesses various benefits, but they need to be properly secured, just like any other digital asset. By following the strategies discussed, you’ll be able to continuously benefit from the data-driven insights and added efficiency these devices provide while ensuring your business’s security remains a top priority. 

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Author Bio:
Guido Voigt

Guido Voigt is the Director of Engineering, at Lantronix, a global provider of turnkey solutions and engineering services for the internet of things (IoT). Guido’s and Lantronix’s goal is to enable their customers to provide intelligent, reliable, and secure IoT and OOBM solutions while accelerating time to market.