From automated vehicles to smart fridges, the Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming how we live and interact with the world. Over the coming years, as IoT continues to change our worlds, it is essential to look into its security features.
According to a recent study, the number of connected devices worldwide is expected to rise from 13.8 billion units in 2021 to over 30.9 billion units in 2025. It is also estimated that by the end of this fiscal year, there will be between two to six connected IoT devices for every living person on the planet.
As more and more IoT devices enter the network, understanding and managing IoT cybersecurity can be tedious. IoT’s new opportunities make it an easy target for information to be comprised. Thus, cyberattacks against IoT devices are growing at an alarming rate.
Luckily, there are several practices users can follow to set up and manage IoT cybersecurity.
The Current State Of IoT Cybersecurity Risks
The rapid expansion of the IoT industry brings significant cybersecurity risk. Studies show that since 2019, attacks on IoT devices have increased almost three-fold. According to the Symantec 2019 Internet Security Threat Report, cyberattacks on IoT devices and environments have evolved in sophistication.
Bots or worms can compromise IoT devices like Linux-based Internet routers, and malware can also leverage these devices to commit additional crimes. Cyberattacks on industrial control systems and military and business infrastructure are also increasing daily.
There is no dearth of examples that show the current state of IoT cybersecurity risks. Most of these stories even seem too bizarre to be true.
According to a prominent example featured in CISO Magazine, hackers committed identity theft by stealing from individuals through remote access to an IoT coffee machine. Smart coffee machines are designed to be operated remotely by voice control. This security feature was compromised. The coffee machine served as a convenient vector to access connected systems.
A similar example comes from the source of connected network printers. According to a leading research firm Quocirca, more than 60 percent of businesses in the United Kingdom, United States, France, and Germany faced a printer network data breach in 2019. This cost the concerned stakeholders an average of over USD 400,000.
The hackers used printers that were not well secured as an ingress juncture to the network, and this helped them commit several DDOS attacks within the organisations.
Mirai, known as the first-ever IoT botnet, attacked journalist Brian Kreb’s website, followed by the French web host OVH in 2016. Later that year, the domain name system (DNS) service provider’s network was targeted and this caused major websites such as The New York Times, Amazon, Netflix, and Twitter to be unavailable for hours.
What Are The Most Common Fields For IoT Cybersecurity Risks?
Currently, the IoT industry is more expansive than ever, resulting in many related industries being compromised. Deloitte outlined several key market segments excelling at IoT utilisation and, thus, were the most prone to IoT cybersecurity risks.
The growing number of use cases prove how many entry points exist for hackers and cybercriminals to exploit. These include:
1. Smart Homes
Smart homes have become the most common host for cyberattacks on IoT devices. These devices include a range of wearables, refrigerators, smart thermostats, smoke alarms, and home security.
2. Industrial Systems And Sensors
These include sensors that measure flow, temperature, speed, pressure, light, and so on. They are usually placed in factories and industries to monitor the production process.
3. Transportation and Urban Mobility
IoT is widely used by state and city governments to monitor the public transport system, telematics, smart parking, traffic routing, and so on.
4. Cities and infrastructure
The creation of smart cities has led to the increased use of IoT devices such as HVAC, waste management systems, electric vehicles, elevators, buildings, and so on.
5. Healthcare
One of the most critical industries IoT has permeated is the healthcare sector. Several smart IoT devices are used to oversee patient care, remote diagnostics, food sensors, equipment monitoring, bio wearables, etc.
How To Secure The IoT Ecosystem?
The only solution to IoT cybersecurity is taking concrete steps to secure the ecosystem. Robust cyber protection of IoT networks starts with understanding how these connected devices work, and this involves getting a handle on the IoT devices present in the digital ecosystem.
An easy way to gain visibility into the system is by taking stock of each connected device deployed across your space. An attack surface scan can also be conducted to understand and manage IoT cybersecurity.
Here are some steps that can be adopted to secure the IoT ecosystem:
1. Segmentation
IoT devices connected directly to the Internet need to be segmented into their own networks, which will help secure restricted access to the enterprise network. These specific network segments should monitor anomalous activity and take action where an issue is detected.
2. Network Access Control (NAC)
Network Access Control or NAC helps identify and inventory IoT devices connected to a network. This helps in providing an accurate baseline for tracking and monitoring devices.
3. Proper Training
Since IoT is a constantly developing industry, it is vital for security staff to stay updated with the systems, learn new architecture and programming languages, and be prepared for any unforeseen security challenges. Cybersecurity teams should be given regular IoT cybersecurity training to keep up with security measures.
4. Consumer Awareness
Apart from cybersecurity teams, consumers should also be aware of IoT systems’ dangers. This includes equipping them with the knowledge to stay secure, applying software updates, and updating credentials.
5. Security Gateways
Last but not least, security gateways play a key role in managing IoT cybersecurity. They act as an intermediary between IoT devices and the network. These security gateways have greater processing power, memory, and capabilities than IoT devices. Therefore, this allows them to implement firewalls that ensure that hackers cannot access the IoT networks.
OptiTrac has a range of robust IoT cybersecurity measures that can help companies prevent data breaches and protect them against threats. These solutions can be customised according to the specific industry to save time and deliver impressive output.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is IoT Related to Cybersecurity?
IoT components usually communicate over wireless networks where a hacker could obtain confidential information by eavesdropping. This is how IoT is related to cybersecurity and could fall prey to cybersecurity threats.
Q2. Why is IoT a Cyber Threat?
IoT devices and systems are vulnerable to known network attacks like spoofing and the denial of service (DoS). These can lead to compromised systems where user data can be stolen, and hackers can gain incorrect access control.
Q3. What kinds of Cyberattacks are Possible in IoT?
There are several instances of cyberattacks in IoT environments. However, the most common are eavesdropping, brute-force attacks, and privilege escalation attacks.
