IoT (Internet of Things) is one of the fastest-emerging technology trends, enabling everyday web-enabled devices to communicate and exchange data over the network.
However, Internet of Things devices present cybercriminals with an immense attack surface due to security vulnerabilities present on many of them that hackers can exploit.
Internet of Things (IoT) Security Assessment
The Internet of Things (IoT) is an increasingly EDR connected network of physical objects linked to computers. These include smart home appliances, cars, wearable tech devices and healthcare devices - not to mention wearable technology that could enable healthcare monitoring or help businesses track performance better than before - that provide real-time insights for better management while at the same time acting as potential targets of cyber attacks.
Many Internet of Things devices are left unsecured, leaving sensitive data vulnerable to theft or hacking - This includes personal data, online browsing/purchase records and credit card numbers - leaving it open to identity fraud, financial loss and other serious consequences.
IoT devices should include multiple security layers to prevent data from being compromised during their lifecycle - whether software, firmware or physical security measures. To protect data against being stolen by third parties, these IoT devices must incorporate safeguards into their design that encrypt information during device operation. This can include software encryption technologies as well as other approaches.
A security assessment is an integral part of cyber security strategy and is often used as an assessment after breaches in an Organization's infrastructure have taken place. By identifying vulnerabilities and prioritizing and implementing appropriate controls to mitigate them, organizations can identify areas for potential exploitation. An Organization will typically conduct regular security reviews to identify vulnerabilities as part of this assessment process or when investigating breaches which have taken place within their infrastructure.
A practical security assessment begins with a careful inventory of assets to be evaluated and an understanding of their scope and priorities for protection. This lets organizations prioritize which networks, devices and data to secure first.
Testing should follow, which may include physical and logical penetration testing. While this process can take time, it is vital in protecting against cyber attacks.
After testing, the security assessor should evaluate findings to assess their significance and make recommendations based on assessment results for corrective action. Once documented in a SAR document, all findings detail assessment processes and potential issues or risks identified during assessment processes.
Hackers are finding innovative ways to exploit gaps in connected systems, components and assemblies connected via the cloud, IoT and advanced wireless communications - and governments and contractors trust Keysight to protect connected devices against such attacks and TTP.
Conducting a comprehensive security evaluation is the ideal way to identify vulnerabilities in your defences, take measures to strengthen them, and comply with regulations such as GDPR.
Network Internet of Things (IoT) Security
As the Internet of Things (IoT) expands and evolves, hackers continue to find vulnerabilities within it that they exploit; as a result, IoT security should be taken seriously when designing devices aimed at consumers and industrial applications.
As the first step of IoT security, ensuring its firmware and software remains up-to-date is essential. Conducting extensive tests to detect vulnerabilities while limiting attack surfaces is recommended.
Network segmentation can also help lower your IoT security risks. Establishing separate networks for IoT devices and guest connections will prevent attacks from spreading rapidly while isolating potentially problematic devices that cannot be immediately taken offline.
Encryption can also help keep IoT devices secure by protecting the exchanges between devices as they traverse your network and preventing on-path attacks where attackers intercept data as it travels between them.
By assigning each device a different password, you can limit the scope of an attack by dissuading hackers from connecting with all your IoT devices using one key. For instance, having separate passwords for fridges, coffee machines, heating control, and door lock devices makes it harder for hackers to gain entry and expand their presence within your IoT network to access these devices.
Not only should your devices be secure, but you should also keep their firmware and software updated through automatic or manual checking.
Endpoint Internet of Things (IoT) Security
Securitying BYOD and IoT devices has become more complex, with users' increasing adoption of these endpoints, creating new vulnerabilities for hackers to penetrate company networks. Therefore, companies must ensure adequate protection for these endpoints to avoid cybercriminals exploiting vulnerabilities.
Businesses need to secure endpoints against threats by installing an array of security tools on them as well as their servers and networks - such as anti-malware protection, real-time monitoring capabilities, or technologies capable of detecting cyber threats that may pose threats and take measures to counter them before they hurt business operations.
Solutions like these help protect devices and networks against malware by scanning files for known vulnerabilities that would allow malware to execute or run, preventing execution from taking place. They also offer visibility into potential threats for faster detection and remediation times.
Privilege Management, also known as the Principle of Least Privilege (POLP), is another critical part of endpoint security. This feature limits user access to PCs or servers to only what's necessary to complete their job duties; additionally, this may prevent users from accessing files containing sensitive data that compromise network security.
An effective endpoint security solution must include automated features to respond quickly to security events while offering 24/7 monitoring and recording of endpoint activities.
Modern endpoint security solutions based in the cloud allow businesses to deploy and scale as they expand quickly and are more adaptable to protect a wider variety of devices.
An effective endpoint security solution must also include machine learning capabilities, which use artificial intelligence to train itself to detect threats in data sets by learning how to recognize patterns within them. This enables the system to identify threats as more data is added - eventually becoming more competent.
Cloud Internet of Things (IoT) Security
Cloud security is an integral component of IoT security. It protects data, apps and infrastructure against attacks that could lead to revenue losses, reputation damage and legal complications - this includes protecting cloud-based applications, networks and endpoint devices against malware such as ransomware, spyware or phishing attacks.
Cloud computing enables organizations to scale resources as needed, processing data, gaining insights quickly, and analyzing them for actionable insights. As such, IoT-based businesses have adopted cloud services as an integral component. However, storing large volumes of unstructured information in the cloud poses risks for companies needing to oversee cloud security practices adequately.
Enterprises should implement several practices to protect their cloud-based IoT systems, including threat modelling, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), data encryption, and cloud-based IoT middleware, which monitors device activity.
Implementing a holistic cloud security strategy is the first step toward protecting all your cloud-based services and devices from malicious threats. This involves mapping out your infrastructure to determine which components are in control, assessing any gaps in protection/compliance measures and identifying controls to increase its overall security posture.
FAQ Section
The main issues with IoT security include a lack of sufficient built-in security due to limited computational capacity, poor access control in IoT systems, and a limited budget for testing and improving firmware security.
IoT security involves ensuring that IoT devices are secure and do not pose threats to a network. Since anything connected to the internet can be targeted, attackers may try various methods, like stealing credentials or exploiting vulnerabilities, to compromise IoT devices remotely.
One of the biggest risks in IoT security is the absence of encryption in regular transmissions. Many IoT devices do not encrypt the data they send, making it possible for attackers to intercept important information, including credentials, when they gain access to the network.
Surprisingly, humans are often the overlooked factor in IoT security risks. Social engineering attacks, where hackers manipulate individuals rather than directly targeting devices, can be an effective way to gain unauthorized access to a network. This aspect is frequently disregarded.
