Why Is Security Important for IoT Devices Network and IT Infrastructure?

Digitally interconnected technologies and apps are infiltrating many aspects of our daily lives, including our homes, workplaces, automobiles, and sometimes even our bodies. To experience the advantages of being linked to the internet, all items are getting smart. The Internet of Things (IoT) age is exploding at an alarming rate. 

Common IoT Security Vectors 

A threat vector is a method or path via which a cyber-criminal potentially gains access to your network's core technologies. With so many IoT devices linked, the following are the most popular risk vectors: 

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are Poorly Configured 

IoT Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings provide a significant risk of data leakage. Weak encryption mechanisms can allow cybercriminals to obtain passwords while data is being transmitted across the network. Furthermore, most passwords are not individually generated for each device, opening the door for illegal access to the whole network if just a single machine is hacked. 

There are No Physical Limitations 

Iot devices reside outside of the conventional network boundary and in the public. Traditional security measures for restricting device access are no longer valid. These devices can be deployed to any new place as required and programmed to connect to the network. 

The Device's Physical Control 

This is the most dangerous threat vector since attackers have physical access to equipment and operations. With this level of access, hackers may easily gain access to the internal components of equipment and their data, and they can also access all network communication using tools such as Bus Pirate, Shikra, or Logic Analyzers. An attacker having physical access to an IoT device can steal cryptographic keys, alter its firmware, or substitute it with other equipment under their authority. 

IT vs. IoT 

While IoT systems are deployed at the edge, IT infrastructure is in the cloud. One breach in IoT security can allow attackers to obtain access to the main IT network via any of the IoT threat vectors listed above. Some real-life examples are highlighted below. 

Subway Point-of-Sale Hacking 

Multiple IT security vulnerabilities with PoS have been disclosed. One of these is the $10 million Subway Pos hack, which affected around 150 restaurants. A similar hack occurred at Barnes & Noble when credit card scanners at 63 of their outlets were hacked. 

Target data leak via HVAC 

Target, a world's top 10 American retailer, said that cybercriminals acquired 40 million credit card details in one of the largest data breaches in history. The hackers acquired the credentials from a third-party HVAC provider, gained access to the HVAC system, and subsequently to the business network. 

SamSam Ransomware 

Another well-known incidence of a system breach was revealed in 2018 when the SamSam ransomware targeted the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Port of San Diego in the United States, abruptly shutting down their services. 

What Should Businesses Do? 

To begin with, IoT devices must be precisely identified. Each of these devices must have a distinct identity that can be effectively managed. This is essential and serves as the foundation for most of the security protocols that will be deployed later. 

The software also needs to be protected using techniques like firmware, signed code, firmware compliance, or workload compliance. All these safeguards must be implemented on top of the identification layer. 

Finally, businesses must have the utmost level of compliance, which determines which versions of the software or firmware should be operating on the equipment. 

To summarize, identity management ought to be at the core of any integrated IT security solution for IoT devices, followed by firmware and software management, and lastly, any form of compliance should be stacked on top of it.