When it comes to IoT, most people don’t know the best practices for cyber security. While most people know how to protect their PCs and smartphones, few are aware of the proper methods for protecting IoT devices. Even employees in firms that purchase IoT-enabled software may not know how to secure it. As a result, they can become easy targets for hackers.
Physical hardening
Physical hardening is one of the most important components of an IoT device’s security. This is because most of these devices are remotely deployed, and as a result, constantly exposed to a greater physical attack surface. Without physical hardening, these devices are open targets for hackers and other undesirable actors, who can gain control and access valuable information from them. For example, a hacker can remove memory cards and read private information on them.
As IoT device deployments continue to grow, physical hardening will become more important. IT managers need to ensure that their device security strategy includes physical hardening measures. These measures will depend on the type of IoT device, its location on the network, and the type of data it will transmit. However, even basic physical hardening can help significantly improve the security of IoT devices.
Manufacturers must also do their part in protecting IoT devices. They can provide more secure devices by embedding secure components and providing lockable exterior cases. They should also provide secure shipping for these devices, allowing customers to verify the security of the devices upon arrival. Manufacturers that implement physical hardening measures can ensure high consumer confidence and reduce the number of physical security measures consumers need to take.
Besides securing IoT devices, organizations need to protect their systems from the APIs that connect them. These APIs can be used by hackers to access IoT devices and breach the network. Therefore, it’s vital to understand the APIs before implementing them.
Unmanaged devices
Unmanaged devices can pose new security challenges, particularly for organizations without traditional security products. They are a potential way to breach the perimeter and are difficult to update. As these devices become more pervasive in industries, they are likely to continue to pose security risks. Additionally, as OT and IT converge, the number of these devices will continue to increase. IT security teams will continue to struggle to keep up with these new technologies.
Unmanaged devices must be monitored for security and a proactive security program should be in place. An IoT security program should be able to inventory all devices and track their lifecycles. By implementing an effective security solution, an organization can drastically reduce the risk of a data breach.
An effective IoT security strategy should include privileged access management. Privilege access management will enable enterprises to limit the potential attack surface of their IoT networks. Many IoT devices are designed for simplicity and connectivity, but hackers are constantly finding new ways to exploit their vulnerabilities. Without privileged access management, unmanaged IoT devices are vulnerable to threats such as malware like Mirai. These malicious actors can use these devices as a point of entry to networked systems or as a platform for lateral movement.
Moreover, it is impossible to secure unmanaged devices completely. There are several software vulnerabilities that can allow attackers to access features of the device they have targeted. The attacker can run code on the device to steal sensitive data or attack third parties. This vulnerability is difficult to eliminate, but there are methods to limit the scope of attack.
Infected devices
IoT devices are often not protected from hackers who use zero-day security vulnerabilities to infect them. While one infected device is not a big deal, multiple infected devices can be disastrous. In the worst case scenario, a hacker can launch a botnet attack, where thousands of infected devices are used as a botnet to launch a massive cyber attack. A botnet attack can cause outages and critical system failures, so it is essential to protect your IoT devices from botnets.
One way to prevent these security threats is to encrypt data while it is being transmitted, as well as at rest on the device. In addition, you should use a reliable firewall to protect your devices from malicious attacks. Additionally, if you’re a manufacturer, upgrade your devices’ firmware as soon as possible, which will ensure that they are protected from malicious attacks.
A CI/CD pipeline can also help you achieve this goal. With this approach, you can continually model your device’s security posture by combining vulnerability and threat intelligence. Once you’ve mastered this, you’ll be able to better protect your IoT devices from malicious actors.
Another way to keep IoT devices safe is to change their passwords. Many IoT devices come with default passwords, which makes it easy for hackers to get hold of them and launch brute force attacks. Also, many users don’t bother to change their default passwords after initial setup. The Mirai botnet, for example, reportedly used 61 username/password combinations.
A significant security issue that has plagued IoT devices is the lack of update management. Many devices aren’t updated regularly, so their software and firmware aren’t secure enough to fix vulnerabilities. Moreover, these devices don’t have a mechanism to notify users when their systems have been compromised by an outside attack. Many users don’t realize that their devices are vulnerable until they have already been damaged.
Malware
IoT devices are a growing target for malware, including botnets. These malware programs target specific vulnerabilities within IoT devices and cause them to become unusable. For example, a bot might install itself on a device and then delete the system software before rebooting the device. Despite the fact that the malware is destructive, it does not have a clear agenda or profit motive.
Because many IoT devices are not updated regularly, they are particularly vulnerable to malware. Infected devices can become botnets, which send huge amounts of traffic to hackers and disrupt organizations. This makes IoT devices an easy target for the least-experienced hackers. As a result, manufacturers must take extra care when building secure transmitters for IoT systems.
One of the most important security measures to take for IoT devices is changing their default credentials. Hard-coded credentials can be easily guessed by hackers. For example, the Mirai botnet infects devices that use default passwords. The malware uses the password database of 61 common passwords to create a botnet that “enslaves” over 400,000 connected devices.
While most IoT device manufacturers do their best to ensure security, some devices are vulnerable to attacks. For example, in the case of implantable pacemaker devices, the FDA recently revealed that 465,000 devices were vulnerable to hacking. While the manufacturer quickly released an updated version of its pacemaker devices, the security flaw in the devices left patients vulnerable.
Another common security concern for IoT devices is data privacy. As a result, many of these devices collect personal data, including health records. Similarly, smart toys and wearables collect information about users. The information they collect can also be sold by hackers or used to extort the owners of the data. In addition, ransomware attacks, where malware encrypts data and demands a ransom, are a major concern for IoT security.
Network segregation
One of the key issues relating to IoT security is the lack of network segmentation. Segmenting your network allows you to limit the flow of data to specific segments and protect sensitive systems. You can do this by limiting the network traffic according to type, source, and destination. This helps you maintain network security and helps you share bandwidth better. Moreover, network segmentation also reduces overall network traffic.
Another key point in ensuring network security is to segregate IoT devices from IT devices. This will help you protect customer and operational data from unauthorized access. For example, if you have a smart thermostat or smart doorbell, you should keep them on separate networks. This way, if your “smart” device is compromised, attackers will have to jump across two networks before they reach your primary devices. However, it is not always easy to create separate networks, especially for non-technical users. The easiest way to create separate networks is to use two routers.
IoT network segmentation is important in preventing ransomware attacks from exploiting network vulnerabilities. However, identifying IoT appliances is a challenge for IT administrators. For example, industrial monitors, connected cameras, and mobile card readers are all IoT devices that need to be protected. This means that the network must be able to identify and block these devices from accessing sensitive information.
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In addition to network segmentation, IT administrators can apply policies to individual devices on the network. This is particularly useful in a cloud environment because it allows IT administrators to apply policies to individual workloads. For instance, an engineer testing the temperature of a building will have different access privileges than an automated lighting setup. This type of network segmentation is increasingly becoming more prevalent and valuable in the IoT. Furthermore, it is also important to have a firewall that understands IoT protocols.
