IoT Security: What Network Professionals Need To Know

IoT devices are a powerful innovation capable of making businesses dramatically more productive. Most IoT devices, however, are designed and built to be low cost, with security being an afterthought. Because of this, they introduce risk into the network and must be secured properly. 

Effective IoT security starts with having an accurate inventory of devices, mapping the network, and  knowing the risks and vulnerabilities, to keep networks secure and running as intended. IoT devices have become common in all types of organizations. In this post, we’ll cover everything network professionals need to know to properly protect their IoT devices and networks.

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What is IoT Security?

What Are Some IoT Security Risks?

Other Common Vulnerabilities

What Are Some Best Practices for IoT Network Security?

What is IoT Security?

IoT security refers to the safeguards and precautions implemented to protect any IoT-connected device from threats and vulnerabilities. The purpose of IoT security is not only to protect these devices from being compromised, but also to have the proper management capabilities to control the network, protect the data gathered by the sensors and software, and mitigate incidents as they arise.

What Are Some IoT Security Risks?

With IoT attacks on the rise, the first thing network professionals should do is risk assessment. This starts with knowing the most frequently exploited security risks and how to mitigate each of them. Here are six of the most common security issues among IoT networks:

• Botnets: While infecting one device with malware may not be enough to take a whole network down, infiltrating multiple devices lets users form an army of compromised devices. Known as botnets, these networks of hijacked devices can then carry out denial-of-service attacks on other systems within the network and shut the whole thing down.

• Ransomware: Ransomware attacks have been around almost as long as the internet itself, so it’s no surprise that IoT devices are vulnerable. As its name implies, ransomware threatens to reveal sensitive information or shut down networks unless a ransom is paid.

• Convergence: With the rise of widespread IoT adoption, systems that were once air-gapped and off-limits are now created specifically to be online. With the fields of IT, IoT, and operational technology converging, this opens up these industries to more security threats than ever before.

• Invisibility: A common phrase in cybersecurity is “You can’t protect what you can’t see.” If asset inventories fail to keep up with the addition and expansion of IoT networks, they can’t be monitored by security teams — and therefore become vulnerable.

• Unencrypted data: Without robust encryption, IoT devices are at risk of being hacked or hijacked. The problem is, these devices don’t necessarily have comprehensive encryption protocols built-in, so this can be easy to overlook.

• Rogue devices: If rogue devices appear on your IoT network as a replacement for legitimate devices, attackers can create rogue access points and control or attack the network without administrators’ knowledge.

For more information, read IoT Attacks: 6 Security Risks to Be Aware Of.

Other Common Vulnerabilities

Some of the biggest IoT network security threats are legacy systems, or those over a decade old that weren’t originally designed to be part of an IoT network. Because of their age and the era in which they were designed, these systems typically have limited security measures — and that makes them low-hanging fruit for hackers and cyberattackers.

Using easy-to-guess or default passwords make devices easy targets for bad actors, yet “123456” and “password” remain among the most commonly used passwords in the world. Without a built-in step to assess each new device on a network to analyze password strength, weak passwords remain a security risk that can be breached in seconds.

Finally, network administrators need to secure IoT data transactions to ensure that proprietary or confidential information isn’t intercepted. Most IoT transactions are not secure by default, so additional steps should be taken to ensure that data is safe.

To find out how to protect against these vulnerabilities, check out IIoT Vulnerabilities: How to Protect Your Networks Against 3 Common Threats.

What Are Some Best Practices for IoT Network Security?

No matter the industry, there are steps network teams can take to mitigate IoT security risks. By following these general best practices, administrators can address threats and vulnerabilities before they become emergencies. One of the biggest challenges in IoT network security is that the number of connected devices might range from a dozen to thousands, depending on the industry. By implementing microsegmentation, administrators can segment particular devices and reduce attack exposure for the rest of the network. For high-volume IoT networks, this should be among your first priorities.

Beyond that, there are several other IoT security best practices to keep in mind:

• Physical device security: One side effect of the automation provided by IoT networks is isolation. If devices aren’t being physically monitored, they can become security risks. Keep physical safeguards in mind along with digital ones.
• Zero Trust networking: By maintaining accurate IoT device inventories, streamlining processes, and limiting device communications, Zero Trust networking can reduce the harmful effects of security breaches.
• Microsegmentation: This process divides an IoT network, which might be composed of hundreds of devices, into manageable segments that isolate endpoints from each other, making it harder for outside attacks to succeed.
  
  

Learn more about IoT security best practices by reading 4 IoT Device Security Best Practices for Every Organization.

Keep Your Network Secure

If you’re not sure how to begin addressing the numerous internet of things security concerns, Byos can help. The Byos µGateway was designed to protect entire fleets of IoT devices, with microsegmentation dramatically reducing attack space. The plug-and-play implementation makes it easy to set up, and its support for legacy devices addresses one of the most common vulnerabilities that IoT networks face. Want to know more about how Byos can increase IoT network security? Contact us to learn more today.