Cybersecurity for IoT devices is a growing concern, especially in the business sector. According to a Cisco report, there will be more than 29.3 billion devices connected to the Internet worldwide by the end of 2023, and about half of them are expected to be IoT objects.
With so many connected devices, it is important to take steps to protect them from cyber threats. Let’s look at some of those measures.
First things first: what is IoT?
Before getting into the security measures for IoT devices, it helps to understand what IoT actually is.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of Internet-connected devices that can communicate with each other and with other systems. These devices can be almost anything, from household appliances to industrial sensors and medical equipment.
IoT has many applications that transformed our relationship with technology when they arrived, from home automation to health monitoring. That does not mean it is free of security risks, though. IoT devices often have security vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit.
If you want to go deeper on this topic, read this article on what IoT node networks are and how they work in the digital world.
Cybersecurity risks in IoT devices
Some of the cybersecurity risks affecting IoT devices include:
- Theft of sensitive data: IoT devices typically collect and transmit large amounts of data, such as geographic location, personal information, and usage habits. If that data is not properly protected, cybercriminals can intercept it and use it for fraud, extortion, or identity theft.
- Malware infection: IoT devices can be vulnerable to malware such as viruses, worms, or trojans. These malicious programs can take advantage of a device’s security weaknesses to gain access, control it remotely, or use it as a platform to launch attacks on other systems.
- Unauthorized access: IoT devices are often connected over wireless networks, which can make unauthorized access easier. If the devices lack sufficient security measures, cybercriminals could break into them and take control of how they operate. This can lead to dangerous or even harmful situations, especially with medical devices or industrial control systems.
- Spying and surveillance: IoT devices such as security cameras, baby monitors, or virtual assistants can be used to spy on and monitor people without their knowledge or consent. If these devices are compromised, attackers could gain access to sensitive information or use the cameras and microphones to spy on users.
- Denial of service (DoS): IoT devices can be used as part of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. In this type of attack, many compromised devices are used to flood a service or network with malicious traffic, causing a service outage for legitimate users.
These are just a few examples of cybersecurity risks in IoT devices. Keep in mind that IoT security is a constantly evolving challenge, so it is essential to stay up to date on the latest threats and security best practices.
10 cybersecurity measures for IoT devices
Here are some cybersecurity measures for IoT devices that will help you keep them secure:
1. Update the firmware
IoT device manufacturers regularly release firmware updates to fix security vulnerabilities. Keeping your IoT devices on the latest version is important to make sure they stay protected.
2. Change the default passwords
Many IoT devices ship with default passwords that are easy to guess. It is important to replace them with strong, unique passwords. A few tips for creating secure passwords:
- Create passwords of at least 12 characters that combine letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, and special punctuation marks.
- Avoid personal information, such as names, birth dates, or addresses.
- Always use unique passwords, never the same one across multiple accounts.
- Avoid common words.
- Choose a passphrase so it is harder to guess and easier to remember.
3. Implement other strong authentication methods
Beyond using secure passwords, we can add other strong authentication methods, such as two-factor authentication or individual digital certificates.
These measures ensure that only authorized users can access and control IoT devices.
4. Segment the network
Network segmentation means dividing the network into separate segments to limit IoT devices’ access to other network resources.
This helps prevent attacks from spreading and limits the impact if an IoT device is compromised.
5. Disable unnecessary features
IoT devices often come with unnecessary features that leave them open to cyberattacks. Some of the features we can disable include:
- Unused ports and services.
- Voice assistants or microphones.
- Remote connections, which we can disable or restrict to specific IP addresses.
- Insecure communication protocols such as Telnet or FTP. Safer alternatives would be SSH or SFTP.
On the other hand, one feature we should always turn on rather than off, in case it is not enabled by default on our device, is automatic updates. Enabling them is important so we receive the security fixes and patches that address known vulnerabilities.
6. Use a secure network
It is important to use secure networks for your IoT devices. For example, Wi-Fi networks with WPA2 encryption and a unique network name that is hard to guess.
Another idea is to use separate networks for each of your IoT devices, so that a potential cyberattack cannot spread to other devices on your network.
7. Encrypt the data
Another measure is to use encryption to protect both data communication and data storage, a practice that ensures the data cannot be accessed by unauthorized people.
8. Use security solutions
There are security solutions built specifically for IoT devices that can help you protect them. These solutions may include:
- Network firewalls.
- Antivirus for IoT.
- Intrusion detection software (IDS).
- Patch managers.
- Behavior analysis software.
- Security management platforms.
9. Manage IoT device identities
IoT device identity is a fundamental security component for protecting the IoT ecosystem.
Provisioning and managing device identities throughout their entire life cycle helps guard against cybersecurity threats. IoT devices should be authenticated and authorized before they are allowed onto the network.
10. Train users on IoT security
It is important to train users on IoT security so they can take steps to protect their own devices. That includes teaching them how to change default passwords, how to update firmware, and how to use a secure network.
These security measures do not only protect us as individuals, since protecting IoT-connected devices also makes the Internet safer for everyone.
If you are looking for a training program, for yourself or for your team, take a look at our Online Master’s in Cybersecurity and Digital Prevention. The cybersecurity master’s for those of us who are not IT professionals:
Conclusion
As we have seen throughout this article, IoT devices are exposed to many risks. That is why it is so important to understand them and apply cybersecurity measures, both personally and at the company level.
One of the ways to build a secure system is precisely through training. Only then can we get ahead of cyber threats and stay current on the best practices of the moment.
Do you run a business and want to make sure your IoT devices do not become an entry point for cyberattacks? In that case, it is essential to build a cybersecurity culture in your company and train your employees.
