Srikanth
From the early 2000s, the Internet of Things, or IoT has evolved from being a simple notion to near reality, which is now a daily requirement. In the year 2021, it has been estimated that nearly 10 million devices have been linked through IoT worldwide.
Nevertheless, many of these Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets and sensors that are actively linked to the internet are not as safe as old personal computers were. This has resulted in the fact that IoT security has become a major security issue for almost all companies and individuals looking to deploy an IoT project. It is vital to explore how secure IoT devices and networks are to avoid cyber security risks and attacks while protecting important user data.
To understand how to secure IoT devices, it is best to start with the basics
What is IoT security?
IoT security is a sub-sector of IT security or cyber security, which focuses on the protection of IoT sensors, devices, and networks. The phrase “IoT”, or “Internet of Things” as everyone knows, is a broad concept. The subject of IoT security is fairly vast and requires proper understanding. In reality, IoT security may relate to both the tools/infrastructure and protection strategies/techniques utilized to safeguard IoT devices and the network as a whole.
Since IoT security is a large subject, implementing IoT security on an IoT project may need a wide range of strategies, tools, and methodologies, which depend on the severity and scale of the IoT deployment.
Importance of IoT Security
Cyber security is unquestionably crucial in all types of enterprises and systems with an internet connection; the Internet of Things presents a special situation. With the IoT being vast along with several possible attacks, it also presents several troubling security challenges.
Three major IoT security concerns necessitate a thorough IoT security plan:
Huge attack surface with intricate interconnections
Since IoT installations link many different hardware and software solutions, they present a far broader attack surface than any other technology. As mentioned earlier, the more ways these gadgets and software can communicate with one another, the more ways hackers may exploit these relationships.
This poses a unique paradox in IoT security: users want the IoT network to be as adaptable and accessible as possible, which means they want more devices, sensors, and connectivity choices for users. On the other end, these possibilities will provide fraudsters with new opportunities to attack the IoT network. To recap, IoT security must include all possible attack surfaces and access points. Even a little flaw in a single device, for example, might expose the entire IoT network.
Absence of resources in Devices
Another important difficulty in IoT security is the lack of resources in IoT sensors and devices that are required for robust protection. For example, numerous small IoT devices lack the CPU power, and storage capacity to support robust firewall and antivirus solutions. Most of these IoT devices are built to be as small as possible, and security is not always a top focus. In many circumstances, users must rely on unconventional methods to secure the device, which might be more difficult or costly or both to execute.
Important Business risks avoided by IoT Security
The administrator of an IoT system can avoid the following threats and vulnerabilities by developing a thorough IoT security policy to secure the IoT network:
- One of the most commonly found issues happens to be Data breaches involving confidential/sensitive/regulated information. Loss of vital data as a result of a cyberattack can result in financial and legal consequences, as well as long-term and even irreversible loss to the company’s reputation.
- Another issue is that of Hackers gaining control of IoT devices, which reduces the user experience and, in some situations, endanger the user’s safety.
- Data contamination may result in incorrect conclusions in AI and machine learning systems. In turn, poor AI judgments might result in incorrect directives and behaviours.
By avoiding such risks and threats, users can ensure a fully secure IoT system, which helps users achieve a wide range of benefits.
