Introduction

The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized the way we live and work.

From smart homes and wearable devices to industrial automation and healthcare, IoT devices are everywhere.

These devices continuously send, receive, and analyze data, creating a seamless feedback loop that enhances efficiency and convenience.

However, with this increased connectivity comes an elevated risk of cyber threats.

In this blog, we'll explore the essential security features your IoT software should have to protect IoT hardware from potential breaches.

What is IoT?

IoT refers to a system of interconnected physical devices that communicate over the internet without human intervention.

These devices range from consumer gadgets like smartphones and smartwatches to industrial equipment used in manufacturing and energy sectors, often referred to as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

Essentially, if it's "smart," it's likely part of the IoT ecosystem.

Where Does Security Belong in IoT?

Imagine an IoT-enabled coffee maker leaking company secrets. It sounds absurd, but any connected device can become a vulnerability.

As more devices join the network, the potential for security breaches increases. Therefore, securing IoT devices is as crucial as securing any other part of your network.

This involves integrating security into the people, processes, and technologies that make up your IoT infrastructure.

By 2025, it's estimated that there will be over 75 billion connected IoT devices, significantly increasing the attack surface for cyber threats.

A survey revealed that 70% of IoT devices are vulnerable to attack, highlighting the critical need for robust security measures.

The Critical Need for IoT Security

Organizations are increasingly adopting IoT devices for their data gathering and real-time analytics capabilities. However, every new device added to your network expands the attack surface.

Hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in IoT devices to gain unauthorized access to your systems, making IoT security a top priority.

In 2016, the Mirai botnet attack exploited IoT devices with default passwords. This led to a massive DDoS attack that disrupted major websites like Twitter, Netflix, and Reddit.

Additionally, a 2020 breach of a major casino was traced back to a vulnerability in a connected fish tank thermometer. This shows how seemingly harmless devices can be entry points for attackers.

Understanding IoT Security Requirements

IoT security strategies should be tailored to your business, industry, and network environment. Key considerations include:

• Administrative Oversight: Maintain rigorous oversight.

• Regular Patches and Updates: Ensure timely updates.

• Strong Passwords: Enforce strong password policies.

• Wi-Fi Security: Secure your Wi-Fi network.

Best practices include:

• Monitoring network and device behavior to detect deviations.

• Network segmentation to isolate threats.

• Applying zero-trust network access.

Due to limited configuration capabilities in many IoT devices, use multi-layered security solutions, including endpoint encryption. As IoT and cloud technologies converge, add cloud-based security solutions for enhanced protection and processing capabilities.

Understand the various protocols (internet, network, Bluetooth, etc.) used by your IoT devices to reduce security risks. For industries relying on GPS, monitor devices for issues like fake or jammed signals.

Conducting a Risk Assessment for IoT Devices and Systems

Attackers prey on negligence. They take advantage of organizations that don't monitor their IoT devices connected to the corporate network.

These devices can be anything from rogue devices to overlooked routers with outdated firmware.

Understanding the risk of each device connected to your network and monitoring their behavior is critical to preventing cyber attacks.

It's also essential to maintain a full inventory of all networked devices on the corporate network.

Finding a solution that can discover all the IoT connections within your network in minutes should be a top priority.

Key Security Features for IoT Software

Authentication and Authorization

Strong Authentication: Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to ensure that only authorized users and devices can access the network. This adds an extra layer of security beyond just passwords.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Assign permissions based on user roles to limit access to sensitive areas of your network. This minimizes the risk of unauthorized access.

Authentication is one of the most crucial security measures for an engineer to consider in an IoT deployment.

IT administrators can determine which IoT authentication and authorization type—such as one-way, two-way, or three-way—will serve the organization best based on the mechanism’s latency and data requirements.

As mentioned above (e.g., default passwords), most IoT devices come with poor authentication.

When deploying IoT devices, similar to websites and web apps, one of the best methods for IT admins to secure IoT devices is to use digital certificates.

IoT device certificates are integral to an IoT security strategy.

Data Encryption

End-to-End Encryption: Encrypt data both in transit and at rest to protect it from interception and unauthorized access. This ensures that even if data is intercepted, it cannot be read without the decryption key.

Secure Communication Protocols: Use protocols such as TLS/SSL for secure data transmission. These protocols help prevent man-in-the-middle attacks by encrypting the communication channels.

The primary purpose of encryption is to protect the confidentiality of digital data stored on computer systems or transmitted over the internet or any other computer network.

IoT encryption is crucial for securing various types of IoT devices. By encrypting data communications from these devices, an organization can ensure:

• Confidentiality of contents

• Authentication of origin

• Data integrity

• Awareness of the sender

Encryption is an effective way to secure data, but it's essential to manage cryptographic keys carefully. This ensures data remains protected yet accessible when needed.

While IoT devices often aren't direct targets, without built-in security, they can become conduits for malware, potentially leading to data breaches.

Data encryption isn't a substitute for other protection controls like physical access, authentication and authorization, or network access controls. It's a method to reduce risk, just like using secure communication protocols and channels for sensitive data.

Although IoT devices are easy to deploy, their communication protocols must have the processing power, range, and reliability to run on existing internet infrastructure, as specified in the criteria for IoT implementation (Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, etc.).

Regular Firmware and Software Updates

Automatic Updates: Implement automated update mechanisms to ensure devices receive the latest security patches and feature improvements. This helps mitigate vulnerabilities as soon as they are discovered.

Vulnerability Management: Regularly scan for vulnerabilities and apply patches promptly. This proactive approach helps keep your devices secure against known threats.

Like other digital devices, IoT devices need regular patches and updates to stay secure.

Updating software and firmware is crucial to prevent threats from exploiting vulnerabilities. This is important for both IoT security and operational technology (OT).

When devices can't be patched or taken offline, administrators can use intrusion prevention systems (IPS) to protect them.

Network Security

Segmentation: Separate IoT devices into their own network segments to limit the spread of potential breaches. Network segmentation helps contain a breach to a smaller part of the network, reducing its impact.

Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): Use firewalls and IDS to monitor and protect the network from malicious activity. These tools can detect and block suspicious traffic before it causes harm.

Monitoring network and device behavior to detect deviations is a best practice for identifying malware from an IoT device vulnerability.

Another best practice is network segmentation of IoT devices. This means connecting them to a separate network to isolate vulnerable devices and threats, preventing malware from spreading across the enterprise.

Applying zero-trust network access provides an additional layer of security.

Device Management and Monitoring

Centralized Management:

Implement a centralized platform to manage and monitor all IoT devices. This gives you a single point of control for all security-related activities.

Real-Time Monitoring:

Keep an eye on device activity continuously to detect and respond to anomalies quickly. Real-time monitoring helps you identify and address threats before they escalate.

Secure Boot

Verified Boot:

Ensure that only authorized firmware can run on devices by implementing a secure boot process. This process verifies the integrity of the firmware, preventing unauthorized firmware from being loaded during the boot process.

Data Privacy and Compliance

GDPR and HIPAA Compliance:

Ensure that IoT solutions comply with relevant data privacy regulations to protect user data. Compliance with these regulations helps avoid legal issues and protects user privacy.

Data Minimization:

Collect and store only the necessary data to reduce exposure to potential breaches. By limiting the amount of data collected, you help minimize the impact of a breach.

Incident Response

Automated Incident Response:

Set up automated responses to detected threats. This helps to quickly contain and fix issues, reducing the time your system is exposed to threats.

Incident Response Plan:

Create and maintain a plan for handling security breaches. Having a plan ensures that your team can respond to incidents in a coordinated and effective manner.

Security Best Practices

• Change Default Credentials: Always change the default usernames and passwords on IoT devices.

• Implement Strong Encryption: Use AES-256 or similar encryption standards to protect sensitive data.

• Regularly Update Devices: Ensure that all IoT devices are regularly updated with the latest firmware and security patches.

Future Trends in IoT Security

• Change Default Credentials: Always change the default usernames and passwords on IoT devices.

• Implement Strong Encryption: Use AES-256 or similar encryption standards to protect sensitive data.

• Regularly Update Devices: Ensure that all IoT devices are regularly updated with the latest firmware and security patches.

Firmware and Hardware-Based Security Solutions

The decision between hardware and software components for IoT comes down to effectiveness.

Software-based security solutions generally have lower upfront costs and are easier to update. However, they are also more vulnerable to attacks.

On the other hand, hardware-based solutions may be more expensive and take longer to implement, but they offer stronger protection for sensitive communications and personal data.

Partnering with IoT Security Experts for Effective Risk Management

Managing IoT security on your network can be overwhelming without the right help.

That's where IoT detection services and tools come in. They help you:

• Discover IoT devices

• Block malicious traffic

• Enable virtual patching

Detection is based on a local library of IoT devices, which is regularly updated to address the latest threats and vulnerabilities.

Combined with an IPS and network access control, these detection services are crucial for an effective IT security strategy and risk management.

Conclusion

Securing IoT devices is a critical part of modern cybersecurity strategies.

By implementing strong security features and staying alert to new threats, organizations can protect their IoT infrastructure and reduce risks.

It's important to take a proactive and comprehensive approach to IoT security. This means ensuring that all devices and data remain secure.