How does the Internet of Things protect against cyber threats?

Because of the sheer size of the IoT -based infrastructure, companies need to take their security plans to a whole new level in order to benefit from the Internet of Things.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. According to a survey by research firm Gartner, 8.4 billion IoT products are in use worldwide in 2017, up 31% from 2016 and are expected to reach 20.4 billion by 2020.

This growth is due to the company's commitment to increase insight, customer satisfaction and efficiency. With the adoption of sensor data for IoT devices and cloud computing services based on the global Internet, it is possible to take advantage of these advantages. A key issue related to the successful adoption of IoT technology is the need to have strong enough security mechanisms throughout the ecosystem to mitigate the security risks of connecting IoT devices to the Internet.

Consider the number of devices connected to the global Internet and the data that these devices will generate. By 2025, the Internet of Things is expected to have 75.44 billion IoT devices. By then, nearly a quarter of the world's data (expected 163 terabytes of data) will be created in real time, 95% of which will be created by IoT devices.

It is expected that by 2020, the Internet of Things is expected to have an amazing economic impact, with a market size of 8.9 trillion US dollars. Coupled with the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape, it's easy to understand why many experts are concerned about their risks because they are keen to benefit from the Internet of Things.

To make matters worse, cybercriminals are actively seeking new and more insidious ways to invade devices because they provide a convenient portal to get a more valuable system. If the electrical equipment in the home is invaded by cybercriminals, even a rice cooker that does not pose a threat to family safety may become a more important entry point in the network and become the most serious security hole.

Of course, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) faces a much higher risk. From the global manufacturing industry to power generation and distribution infrastructure, IoT equipment can significantly increase the operational risk of the enterprise. Recent reports of hackers invading US power plant control systems indicate that people need to be wary of this.

Fortunately, cybersecurity is still a top priority for IoT and industrial IoT companies, or consider taking such an approach. A recent survey by research firm 451 Research found that security is still a major issue for IT professionals to address when deploying IoT projects in the enterprise. The company conducts online surveys of more than 600 IT decision makers around the world and complements its research through in-depth telephone interviews.

When asked what technologies or processes their organizations are considering to implement current or planned IoT initiatives, 55% of respondents ranked the security of the Internet of Things as their top priority. Enterprises see security as the number one reason for choosing a commercial IoT platform, with 58% of respondents ranking it as the preferred factor for selecting a supplier partner.

According to the report, the nature of IoT deployment makes it difficult for enterprises to resist cyber threats. As industrial devices increasingly connect to the Internet for data collection and analysis, companies are beginning to become familiar with the complex world of security.

According to analysts at 451 Research, some business leaders have been adopting a wait-and-see attitude toward the use of the Internet of Things because they believe risk is still too high for potential returns. But for those companies that are doing IoT projects, security must be a top priority.

To ensure the strong security of the Internet of Things and the Industrial Internet of Things, companies will wisely implement several best practices based on the recommendations of the IEEE's 2017 report.

Equipment safety

Another issue is how to ensure that the device itself is secure. Some devices or facilities may operate unattended and are therefore not subject to frequent security. The report said that it may be advantageous to tamper with these devices because this type of endpoint hardening can help prevent potential intruders from acquiring data. It may also protect against attacks by hackers or other cybercriminals.

As a best practice, secure endpoint hardening can mean deploying a layered approach that requires an attacker to bypass multiple barriers designed to protect devices and their data from unauthorized access and use. Enterprises should protect known vulnerabilities, such as open TCP/UDP ports, open serial ports, open password prompts, web servers, unencrypted communications, wireless connections, etc.

Another way to protect your device is to upgrade or deploy security patches as needed. But keep in mind that many device vendors don't care about security when building and selling devices. As the investigation report pointed out, many IoT devices are not repairable after they are destroyed, so security cannot be guaranteed. Before investing in equipment using the Industrial Internet of Things, it is necessary to evaluate the safety functions of the equipment and ensure that the supplier conducts thorough safety testing of the equipment.

When an IoT device attempts to connect to a network or service, it is important to carefully manage the authentication of the IoT device to ensure trust. Public key infrastructure (PKI) and digital certificates provide a secure foundation for IoT device identity and trust.

cyber security

In addition to equipment, companies need to ensure their network security for the Internet of Things and Industrial IoT. This includes the use of strong user authentication and access control mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users can access the network and data.

The IEEE noted that passwords must be complex enough to cope with guessing and brute force methods. Whenever possible, organizations should use two-factor authentication (2FA), which requires the user to enter a password and use another verification factor, such as a random code generated by an SMS text message.

For IoT applications , it is a good idea to use context-aware authentication (or adaptive authentication). This includes the use of contextual information and machine learning algorithms to continuously assess risk without compromising the user experience.

Using strong encryption to protect the protocol is another good network security measure. Any communication between devices can be hacked, and both the Internet of Things and the Industrial Internet of Things involve a large number of network protocols used by each layer. Using network layer and transport layer encryption can set multiple barriers for network-based attacks.

Protect data

Businesses also need to protect data from the Internet of Things and the Industrial Internet of Things. Many connected IoT devices store and transmit sensitive personally identifiable information that needs to be strongly protected. Companies that fail to protect these data may face not only adverse business impact, but also regulatory penalties. Application and user data should be encrypted when transmitting and idle.

Good security also means having a strong security operations policy and a comprehensive training program for anyone who is or will be involved in the IoT and industrial IoT environment. Granular audit trails, endpoint anomaly detection, and responsive forensic security capabilities are also key elements in ensuring that any violations are detected and effective and timely remediation is taken before the spread.

This is likely to look like cybersecurity protocol common sense, but many organizations lack the resources and discipline to effectively implement these measures. Given the breadth and breadth of these highly connected infrastructures, organizations need to take their security initiatives to a whole new level in preparation for the benefits of the IoT.