IoT devices generate, move and transmit vast amounts of data. Access to this rich information is critical for real-time operational decisions, agile product development, and long-term market analysis.
Protecting this data is challenging. Enterprises need visibility into all connected IoT devices and a process to update them regularly with the latest security patches.
Encryption
Encryption is scrambling data into a form that can only be read by those with access to a key. It’s widely used to protect sensitive information on computer systems and in communications sent over the Internet.
Many industries have strict compliance rules that require them to encrypt certain types of data at rest and in transit, including healthcare and financial services. It helps keep their customers’ and employees’ personal information private while ensuring they meet regulatory requirements.
In addition to protecting data at rest, encryption also helps to ensure that data doesn’t end up in the wrong hands if a device is stolen or lost. In this way, it is a valuable security measure for the burgeoning world of distributed work. According to a recent survey by security firm Keeper, 40% of respondents listed remote and hybrid work as one of their top cybersecurity hygiene practices.
Encryption at rest is beneficial for businesses that are deploying IoT solutions in their facilities. IoT devices often rely on embedded sensors to gather real-time data, and they can be particularly vulnerable to attacks that leverage their weak points, such as communication protocols. The good news is that new solid-state chips can perform public key encryption protocols in hardware, consuming only 1/400 as much energy and 1/10 of the memory required by software execution.
Authentication
In addition to encryption, IoT security solutions should rely on authentication mechanisms to protect data in transit and at rest. Strong authentication ensures that only authorized devices can access sensitive information and prevents unauthorized parties from intercepting or tampering with data transmissions. Authentication can be achieved through a combination of technologies, including site-to-site virtual private network (VPN) solutions and data signing capabilities, as well as by integrating an IoT security solution into next-generation firewalls to minimize security risk through lateral exploits.
IoT’s ubiquity means it’s a target for hackers with good intentions or malicious ones. Many of these attacks aim to turn off the device itself or use it as a bridge into networks where they can access central systems and data stores. The fact that these IoT ecosystems are complex, with multiple onsite devices that capture data, transmit it to the cloud and then store it with third-party providers, adds another layer of risk.
As a result, it’s vital for enterprises to have visibility into the data flow, and security resources must align with the most critical data based on its sensitivity and value. It will help to limit the impact of a breach and reduce the time it takes for detection. It’s also essential to ensure that the security of IoT devices is built in at the design stage rather than having to fix vulnerabilities later on.
Access Control
IoT devices’ data may seem mundane, but it’s valuable to companies and hackers. That’s why IoT connectivity providers must support access control features like multi-factor authentication, which require a combination of something the user knows, something they have (such as a security token), and something the user is (e.g., a fingerprint).
Additionally, enterprises must ensure that their IoT connectivity solutions can offer network segmentation capabilities, such as virtual local area network (VLAN) configurations and next-generation firewall policies that separate IoT devices from IT assets. It helps limit the damage that hackers can do in a lateral attack, in which a hacker moves from an IoT device to an IT system to gain full access to an organization’s networks and information.
Given the sprawling nature of modern IT environments, with data flowing through the public cloud, the enterprise data center, and many different IoT devices, ensuring that the right people can access the data is challenging. IoT connectivity providers must ensure that their solutions support data governance processes and security controls and that they can seamlessly integrate into the organization’s cybersecurity and risk management programs to help protect all of the data. It includes complying with regulatory mandates, such as GDPR and the EU’s RED (Report on Data Protection) Act.
Monitoring
The business value of data has never been higher, but it can also create new risks for businesses if not adequately protected. It is why choosing a connectivity provider that strongly emphasizes security is more important than ever.
When evaluating IoT connectivity providers, look for one that can offer a unified monitoring platform that gives teams a clear picture of the data they collect, how it’s being used, and what actions hackers may take. This type of visibility will allow you to detect hacker intrusions quickly, which could save valuable time and resources.
Some IoT applications require real-time data processing. For example, in a connected-car application such as fleet management, a company would need to be able to send and receive large volumes of data at high speeds to optimize operations from vehicle performance tracking to stolen-vehicle recovery. In such cases, IoT connectivity solutions must be able to handle a wide range of data requirements, from rate to transfer frequency.
Likewise, energy efficiency is critical in IoT. IoT devices relying on battery or power harvesting must have the ability to run for extended periods with minimal power consumption. As a result, some IoT connectivity technologies have lower bandwidths than others, affecting the number of messages your device can send per hour and the size of those messages. It would be best if you looked for connectivity providers supporting 3G and NB-IoT and innovative options like low-power, wide-area networks (LPWANs).
