IoT security: The great challenge of creating secure devices
The world is increasingly connected, and that is not something new, so the more people have access to new technologies, the more personal information will be stored, both in on-premise environments and Cloud-based infrastructures.
In addition to the legislation for user data security being increasingly strict, valuing security in IoT goes beyond the protection of information, since the lack of configurations on a device can cause serious accidents to a user.
To help with this task, I have brought the main challenges for a corporation to implement an IoT security system efficiently.
After all, what is IoT?
Briefly explaining, an IoT (Internet of Things) device is any physical asset that has an internet connection, such as security cameras, cellphones, cars, watches, virtual assistants, televisions, refrigerators, etc.
According to Gartner’s estimate, by 2025, 1 trillion devices will be connected to the Internet, which further raises concerns about IoT security.
IoT security issues
According to a survey by Zebra Technologies Corporation, 81% of users fear that their data will be leaked, 73% are concerned that hackers will take control of their devices and use them to commit crimes.
This concern is extremely valid, as a device will provide means for hackers to take control of it in case it has security vulnerabilities, and they may leak personal information and even dismantle the device’s security, causing a lot of physical damage to the user.
Moreover, there is a huge increase in DDoS attacks through IoT.
Developers have two main challenges in implementing secure solutions on their equipment.
The first is to make the project within the stipulated budget, which means that many companies give up more expensive and efficient solutions for the security of their users.
And the second is the lack of experience companies have in the digital era, since many of the developers are migrating from the hardware world to the software world, not paying attention to fundamental issues that ensure the security of their product.
Simple practices that can make a difference
1- Start of the project: as soon as you start a project, it is essential that you identify possible threats in IoT, assess the development structure thoroughly to detect the vulnerabilities in the security of your systems and learn how to correct them.
2- Security platforms: after identifying breaches in your system, look for the best security solutions for your hardware and software according to your needs.
3- Strong passwords: something that can be very useful to prevent remote access to your equipment is not allowing users to keep the default password or create weak passwords. The more rigorous a password creation process is, the lower the risks of a cyberattack.
4- Security in updates: in order to avoid the risk of malware infecting your device posing as a system update, it is paramount that you have efficient authentication processes.
5- Study the laws: the data protection laws need to be revised so that there are no irregularities that contradict them.
6- Know your providers: before hiring any security provider, it is important to make sure that their cryptographic resources are really effective, therefore, double-check the authenticity of the providers’ seals and certificates.