The Internet of Things (IoT) has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, so much so that it’s estimated that IoT data output is around 2.5 quintillion bytes every day. That’s a lot of data, which means IoT and cyber security should be a top consideration.
Small Openings
Not all the data involved in IoT is going to be significant, especially if you’re talking about a home’s temperature readings. The problem comes with the operating systems on which IoT devices run. The systems often do a lot in the background that can open the door to an attack from outside the organization.
It’s important to consider IoT and cyber security steps to take well before purchase, installation and implementation of IoT devices.
Finding the Balance
You update your applications on a regular basis for optimization, but also for security, which means you schedule downtime for maintenance. It’s a smart plan to keep your system protected. The same needs to be considered for your IoT devices.
Unfortunately, IoT devices don’t get the same respect as our other connected devices. Rather, they are considered appliances that should be operational 24/7/365. Security patching is a requirement for these devices, and your cyber security strategy has to account for this routine maintenance.
Invisible Factors
Some of your IoT devices are hidden away, not meant to be seen. Those hidden devices present another risk for which organizations need to account, because forgotten assets can be a source of weakness through which hackers access proprietary data.
Documentation of each and every device installed has to be a priority. Refreshing and replacing the devices can be impossible if a new IT team comes through and has no documentation of where these devices can be found.
Think Like the Predator
Do your research and see how some of the first IoT attacks happened. What were the access points? You’ll find that debit/credit card readers were among the earliest hacked, allowing unauthorized users to obtain data. Now, ransomware attacks are coming down hard on unprepared organizations.
More recent attacks have focused on planting bad data rather than taking it. It’s an effort to cause disruption in services, and it’s highly effective on systems with little to no forethought about cyber security.
Basically, this means you need to think about how your IoT devices could be exploited to cause such a disruption and take the necessary steps to protect and defend.
At Clarksys, we’re an agent with connections that assist in offering the cyber security know-how that keeps organizations safe. Contact us and let’s discuss how we can help guide you through IoT and cyber security solutions that fit your needs.
