Guide to Understanding and Managing Your IoT Security

The world is rapidly moving towards IoT in the corporate setting. According to a recent survey organized by Kaspersky, almost 64 percent of all businesses today are using Internet of Things solutions in one way or the other. 

Out of all the organizations using IoT solutions today, 43 percent believe that IoT solutions have stalled their cyber security motives and may lead to breaches in the future. The global number of connected IoT devices is expected to climb up in the nearby future, with a number of businesses moving towards the technology. 

This brings us to the much-needed discussion on security within IoT networks. In this article, we take a look at the use of IoT in the corporate setting, and what can be done to improve this implementation. Stay with us to learn more. 

Challenges in IoT Management 

Before we talk more about IoT security and the ways you can manage and assess it, we look at some of the common challenges facing organizations in IoT management: 

Security Risks 

Cyber attacks have become a massive problem for organizations today. A number of organizations suffer from cyber-attacks, which can eventually take resources away and lead to cyber theft. IoT devices present a different attack vector that organizations haven’t really thought about blocking yet. 

Many organizations are currently concerned about security in their IoT network, and absolutely should be, because an IoT security solution is required to protect the tons of data that goes through the system every day. 

Sensors generate tons of Data 

The data transformation has made organizations install sensors and get data from them, but this has now led most organizations to another serious problem. With a lot of data coming through, it is hard for organizations now to get actionable insight from that data. Not only is the data going to waste, but the amount of money spent on collecting it is also wasted. All of this makes for collective waste that can be averted through the use of Edge-ification. 

Need Real Time Analysis 

While the cloud has come as a good way for most organizations to store data, there is a lack of real-time analysis on the portal. Cloud is not equipped with machine learning models that work in real-time, which is why the Edge comes across as a feasible alternative. Edge technology can work at a faster rate to predict anomalies and give actionable analysis. This not only reduces the maintenance costs, but also puts an end to the downtime that is often suffered by working on the cloud. 

Moreover, while we have seen the cloud becoming more secure over time; there are numerous security implications still involved with storing data on the portal. These security implications can often hinder organizations from working on the cloud, and with Edge coming as a feasible, real-time replacement organizations are expected to jump towards it in the future. 

Changing Infrastructure

Most organizations don’t feel like changing their current infrastructure to accommodate the needs of a system as extensive as the Cloud. The cloud literally changes the infrastructure within a workplace, and requires extensive investment and time among many other things. 

Developing IoT Security Procedures

IoT security is an absolute need of the hour for organizations today. Organizations need to come up with steps that can be implemented to derive success from their IoT procedure, without compromising on security: 

• ● Use a Strict Policy for Access: As per a recent article published on TechRepublic article, every system, user and network connected to an IoT platform is at risk of cyber threats. Once machines are compromised, all users in the solution are affected. 
• ● Create a Management Program for Vulnerabilities: A vulnerability management program is the need of the hour today, and is necessary for recognizing and mitigating vulnerabilities at a nascent stage. Vulnerability identification can help remove problems before they become big. 
• ● Improve IoT Governance: Improved IoT governance can lead to rigorous checks, better guidelines, data privacy, authentication of all connected devices and strict compliance checks. 
• ● Develop an Immunity Approach: A cyber immunity strategy connects IoT devices under one roof through different immunity steps. 

Once you incorporate these cyber security procedures in place, you can monitor your supplies on an ongoing basis. Regular security audits can help pinpoint defects in the procedure and can lead to mitigation. 

Mitigate all Third-Party Risks 

Even if you are doing all that you can do to amp up your internal security measures, you should look to mitigate third-party risks. Vendor employees would also be accessing your network, which is why you should look to mitigate the risks for them as well. Think of third-party employees as your own employees Not giving third-party employees the same protection as you are giving to your own employees may lead to problems. 

Make sure that you also check the risk profile of all third-party IoT vendors when you approve them for your solution. A true audit should also study your current vendors so that you know their risk profile and readiness. 

Create a Security Guide 

You can manage your IoT security risk by creating a security guidebook. The guidebook can document all information within the cybersecurity solution. The guidebook should include how exactly you can protect your system, and the steps you can take to not only detect or respond to threats. 

With a proper security plan, you can truly enjoy the benefits of IoT and minimize the risks associated with the technology. Work on security and create a seamless security environment for your security solution. 

Author Bio - Jyoti Saini is a Technical Lead at Programmers.io and likes studying/researching tech news for recent innovations and upgrades. Saini has been associated with the market for half a decade now and aspires to present complex tech innovations in a simple format for readers online.