Trends, Challenges, and Solutions with IoT Cybersecurity


Consumers and businesses alike have gotten used to the concept that sophisticated computer facilities handle such as data collecting, processing, and analysis. These facilities are responsible for managing the acquisition of data. In large part, this development may be ascribed to the IoT, which is expected to have 64 billion linked devices in operation all over the globe by 2026. According to projections provided by Business Insider, customers will have spent close to $15 trillion on Internet of Things (IoT) devices, solutions, and infrastructure by the time 2023 rolls around.

Presents Increasing Security Risks

The rapidly developing Internet of Things (IoT) industry is inextricably linked to a significant cybersecurity risk that no one can avoid. As all devices will be connected, exposure to one device may ease the work of hackers. The first half of 2019 saw a tripling of attacks directed at Internet of Things devices. Internet Security Threat Report published by Symantec issues a stern warning about the proliferation of sophisticated threats aimed at Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystems. It includes malware such as bots and worms, which may infect intelligent equipment such as Linux-based internet routers and then exploit those devices to perform distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks or spread malware. The risk of infection is present in yet another category of intelligent gadgets, including webcams.

In a recent announcement, the Science and Technology Directive of the Department of Homeland Security provided businesses with a list of recommendations to adhere to maintain the safety of their Internet of Things devices. One can find these instructions for the recommended procedures here. The process for ensuring safety can be divided into three distinct phases, which are as follows

  • Determining whether or not a network or system has devices and components related to the Internet of Things is the first step that one must complete in the detection process.

  • IoT security capabilities need to be continuously maintained, updated, and improved for businesses to keep one step ahead of hackers and other cybercriminals.

  • Businesses are becoming more adept at preventing breaches in the internet of things (IoT) security by employing novel approaches while bearing in mind some essential pointers, as was highlighted in a recently produced list of potential solutions. The following are examples of some of the more effective strategies

  • It is crucial to keep precise records of everything you own that connects to the network if you like to know how much of a risk your Internet of Things devices poses. Maintaining these records is essential if you want to know how much of a chance your Internet of Things devices represents.

  • If you are aware of and prepared for potential cyber dangers in advance, you can reduce the likelihood of being attacked while you are using the internet.

  • When possible, restricting access to sensitive data should be done.

  • Maintain continual vigilance over who is using what gadget at what time.

Developing a whole Internet of Things security architecture may be broken down into these primary phases, which provide a roadmap for cybersecurity professionals to follow.

Markets that Make Frequent use of the Internet of Things

Recently, Deloitte outlined several significant organizations and industry groupings achieving success via IoT, demonstrating the IoT ecosystem's depth in its current iteration. Specifically, the following items make up the catalog

l The term "smart house" refers to a category of technological advancements that include, among other things, wearable accessories, smoke alarms, refrigerators and other home appliances, and security systems.

l One can cover air conditioning, intelligent buildings, waste management, electric automobiles, and urban infrastructure at this meeting.

l In urban regions, traffic routing, telematics, smart parking, and public transit are being developed.

l Industry's reliance on sensors and mechanical systems obtaining measurements from various methods, including speed, temperature, flow, pressure, the intensity of light, and position in space.

Several Real-World Vulnerabilities of the Internet of Things

Recent research published in various journals has provided ample evidence of the significant vulnerabilities of the Internet of Things. Although it may be difficult to accept some of them, they all take place in the real world. Take a look at these two illustrations that are included in the CISO manual. The first illustration is how a hacker could take control of household equipment such as a coffee maker and then use it to acquire sensitive information such as names, addresses, and account numbers. The fact that one can control intelligent coffee makers remotely via smartphone, and in some cases even via voice commands on devices such as Amazon Alexa, makes them a possible security issue for the owners of such intelligent coffee makers. Because coffee machines are not constructed with security in mind during the design phase, it is simple for hackers to get access to related systems through them.

Another example would be printers that are connected to a network. According to research conducted by Quocirca, printer network data breaches affected sixty percent of businesses in the United Kingdom, France, the United States of America, and Germany, with each incident costing an average of over four hundred thousand dollars. Hackers use printers, which are not well protected, as an access point into the network and may even enlist them as part of botnets to carry out DDOS attacks in the company. Hackers use printers as an access point into the grid since printers are frequently not adequately protected. The printer is a typical access point for hackers when they want to break into a network.

Conclusion

For the successful cyber defense of IoT networks, specialists in infrastructure protection, data and information security, risk assessment and mitigation, cloud security architecture, and regulatory compliance are required. By completing the Cyber Security Expert Master's Program or getting further certification in IoT systems, cybersecurity experts may be able to improve their efforts to safeguard the entire infrastructure, from core systems to the IoT edge. It would be a significant step forward. It is helpful in light of the recent events that have taken place.

Updated on: 02-Jan-2023

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