With high levels of efficiency and convenience, the Internet of Things (IoT) has completely changed the way we engage with technology. Smart home appliances, wearable health trackers, industrial sensors, and connected cars are just a few examples of IoT gadgets that make it easier to integrate and automate a variety of operations, which boosts productivity and improves quality of life as well as business outcomes. They spur innovation and upend established business models by offering real-time data and streamlining processes in several industries. However, there are serious privacy and security concerns brought about by this interconnection, and they must be addressed. Due to the enormous volumes of private data they gather and send, IoT devices make excellent targets for cyberattacks, so protecting businesses and people is key, says John Linford, Security Portfolio Forum Director, The Open Group.
Even though automatic security updates have their advantages, the current climate makes it impossible to trust any device completely. IoT device vulnerabilities may result in data breaches, unauthorized access, and the misuse of personal data. Since many IoT devices do not encrypt data by default, sensitive information is vulnerable to interception. Thus, viruses and other assaults may be more likely to target IoT devices with insecure interfaces and no physical protection mechanisms.
Additionally, if you don’t have strong passwords or multi-factor authentication, brute-force assaults are a simple approach to access IoT devices. We’re also seeing botnets used in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which can overload and stop insecure IoT devices. At-tackers can gain access to IoT systems through physical or identity theft and use unpatched security flaws in the firmware and software of IoT devices to obstruct operations or gain unauthorized access. Not to mention ransomware attacks, which can target devices and prevent access to the system, especially those essential for industrial or infrastructure use.
Because of the growth in IoT devices and increasingly sophisticated attack techniques, just securing networks is no longer enough.
Zero Trust and IoT
Devices like security cameras, smart TVs, and cooling systems have the potential to become “lost” in the network. Organizations must implement a thorough Zero Trust policy that ad-dresses all Internet-connected devices and systems across all departments to defend against attacks on these devices – this of course implies having an inventory of these devices, systems, assets, etc. in the first place. This is augmented by clearly defining which department is responsible for which hardware or system and considering areas where the application or extension of Zero Trust principles could improve physical security as well as operational technology (OT).
Organizations should concentrate on models that protect the resources and information/data that networks are designed to move. Zero Trust does not assume that any device on a network has passed a security checkpoint and must therefore be trustworthy; rather, it views every operation as potentially harmful and applies security on an ongoing, case-by-case basis.
To fully implement a Zero Trust approach, organizations must first take an inventory of all of their assets, including IoT devices, as thoroughly as possible. This is not an easy undertaking for many organizations, but it will allow for the identification of touch-points with other assets, the location of touch-points across resources, and the design of security policies that specifically cover IoT devices. The security team should make an effort to develop policies and controls in large organizations with lots of assets that take into consideration the possibility that the asset inventory isn’t entirely accurate or comprehensive.
However, to carry this out effectively, the industry must come together on Zero Trust best practices and standards, ensuring that proactive defence of IoT devices against cyber-criminals is covered.
There are a number of other innovative methods and tools that, in addition to Zero Trust, can strengthen the security of IoT networks and devices. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for example, can enhance real-time threat detection and response by improving the capacity to recognise patterns, irregularities, and potential security threats in massive amounts of data. Threat identification and mitigation can be accelerated by using AI-driven security solutions for IoT networks, which have the capacity to monitor and potentially even control linked devices. However, it is crucial to remember that AI tools are just that: tools. They should not be used exclusively, and they are vulnerable to hacking as well.
The decentralised and secure characteristics of blockchain technology can also improve IoT security. When combined with strong passwords, biometric authentication methods — such as fingerprint or face recognition — offer even more practical and safe security enhancements by adding protection and reducing the likelihood of unauthorised access. While IoT devices are very beneficial in terms of efficiency and convenience, to fully use their potential and guarantee a secure and safe connected environment, it remains critical to solve the privacy and security issues that arise.
