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The Internet of Things has unlocked new potential for businesses in almost every industry. There are now more connected devices than people on earth, with numbers continuing to grow exponentially.This influx of IoT devices has led to a surge in the demand for edge computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and other technologies that support the IoT. Enterprises are leveraging connected devices to monitor their performance, optimize processes, reduce costs, and increase efficiency. However, as with any technology that is accessible from the internet, there are unique security risks associated with IoT devices. This article will explain some best practices for securing your IoT devices so you can ensure your new system is secure and hacker-proof from the get-go.
Establish Secure Communication Channels
The first and most important step in securing your IoT devices is to select channels with strong security features. For example, if you are using an IoT-enabled device that sends data over a public network, you need to ensure the data being transmitted is encrypted.Most IoT device manufacturers will have information on the recommended communication channels in their documentation. If you are using off-the-shelf devices, make sure to read through the product manual to find out which communication protocols are available.You can also speak with a network security expert to determine the best communication channel for your particular system.
Use Device-Based Security
Most IoT devices come with built-in security features. For example, a wireless router used for IoT devices is generally equipped with firewall and encryption capabilities.You should always make use of these built-in security features to avoid having to manually configure security settings on each device. This not only saves you time and effort, but it also ensures that every device in your system is secure.If you are building your own IoT devices, you might be tempted to skip the built-in security features in favor of a central security platform. While this is a good idea, it can be difficult to implement correctly.There are plenty of off-the-shelf devices that have been designed with security in mind. Make use of them to avoid having to build your own, potentially insecure, IoT devices from scratch.
Make Use of Platforms With Built-In Protection
Even if you are using device-based security, you might want to consider using a central security platform. This could be a cloud-based firewall, a network intrusion detection system (NIDS), a next-generation firewall (NGFW), or some other security system.This is particularly important if you want to track and monitor the activity on your network.For example, if you are using an edge computing system to process data from your IoT devices, that data is going to pass through your network. You will want to make sure that data is secure and that no malicious parties are accessing it.A network security platform comes with a host of features that ensure your data remains secure. It can also help you monitor and track malicious activity so you can take prompt action if necessary.
Monitor Network Activity
As mentioned above, monitoring network activity is one of the best ways to identify malicious behavior. If you have installed a network security platform, you should have the option of setting up alerts to notify you of suspicious activity.If you are not using a central platform, you can still manually monitor network activity by keeping an eye on the devices connected to your network. You can do this using a network monitoring tool or by manually checking your router interface.If you are manually monitoring your network, you should have a system in place to log connections and filter out non-essential devices. You should also regularly check that all of your devices are legitimate.
Use Strong Passwords
Passwords are essential for protecting all of your connected devices. IoT devices are often the weakest link in your security chain, and hackers often attempt to break into these devices to gain access to the rest of your network.While manually configuring security settings on each device, make sure to select strong, unique passwords for each device. It can be tempting to copy and paste the same password onto every device, but this goes against every cybersecurity best practice.You should also make sure to change the default password on your router. This is the first thing hackers will look for when attempting to break into your network.
Monitor Device Behavior And Activity
When you have manually configured your security settings and installed a network security platform, you can start monitoring device activity on a more regular basis. This will give you a better idea of which devices are connected to your network and what they are doing.You can also use this information to identify devices that are attempting to access your network without authorization. This means you can keep your network secure while also avoiding the nuisance of false alarms that are common with network intrusion detection systems.To monitor device activity, you will have to manually log in to your network security platform. You can also use an edge computing system or cloud-based analytics platform to gain insight into how your devices are performing.
Ensure Constant Security Updates
A well-maintained system with strong security features can mean the difference between a smooth experience and a complete disaster. Unfortunately, most security systems require manual updates, which can be time-consuming and inconvenient. With a centralized security platform, you can schedule automatic updates to minimize downtime.If you are using a device-based security system, you will have to manually update each device when a new update is available. This can be time-consuming, particularly if you are managing hundreds of devices. You might even consider hiring someone to do this for you.
Conclusion
The Internet of Things has unlocked new potential for businesses in almost every industry. There are now more connected devices than people on earth, with numbers continuing to grow exponentially.This influx of IoT devices has led to a surge in the demand for edge computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and other technologies that support the IoT. Enterprises are leveraging connected devices to monitor their performance, optimize processes, reduce costs, and increase efficiency.This is great news for businesses, but it does present some challenges. IoT devices are often less secure than traditional computers, and they are often being accessed remotely. This increases the risk of data breaches and other forms of cybercrime.This article explains some best practices for securing your IoT devices. It starts with establishing secure communication channels and making use of device-based security features. It also recommends using centralized platforms with built-in protection and monitoring network activity.
