Most modern businesses use Internet of Things (IoT) devices to control HVAC systems, manage building security, monitor equipment performance, and even automate energy usage.
While these gadgets improve efficiency and real-time communication, they also open new ways for attackers to gain access to your IT network. If left unchecked, many IoT devices can expose sensitive data, affect daily operations, and lead to downtime.
IT teams should manage and protect IoT devices against known vulnerabilities to ensure smooth and compliant operations.
Understanding IoT Device Vulnerabilities
Unlike traditional endpoints such as laptops or servers, most IoT devices, such as smart TVs and smart lights, come with limited built-in security features.
To make things worse, many end users fail to change default passwords, leaving IoT devices open to cyberattacks right out of the box.
Common Threats to IoT Devices
- Unauthorized remote access
- Device hijacking and malicious reprogramming
- Firmware exploitation
- Ransomware
- Man-in-the-middle attacks
- Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks
- Brute force
- Radiofrequency jamming
- Data interception
Why Do You Need to Secure IoT Devices?
Protect Critical Systems and Sensitive Data
Many IoT devices collect and transmit sensitive business information. If these devices are compromised, attackers can reach internal systems or databases. Weak security measures lead to data breaches or full-blown network attacks.
Maintain Business Continuity
Unsecured IoT devices can cause serious disruption. A single infected device can shut down automated tools or take an entire IoT environment offline.
Reduce the Risk of Compliance Violations and Fines
Many IoT systems process personal data or sensitive business information. Regulatory frameworks like SOC 2, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS apply to smart devices that transmit this crucial data.
If your IoT endpoints lack proper security, you are at an increased risk of non-compliance. You may end up paying large fines or face legal action, which could damage your reputation in the industry.
Strengthen Your Organization’s Cybersecurity Posture
IoT devices are often the weakest point in a business network. Attackers know this and target smart devices to gain access to sensitive company data.
By managing IoT devices remotely and implementing strict security protocols, you can stay ahead of issues and fix them before they impact operations. This can significantly enhance security across the board.
12 Effective Strategies to Secure IoT Devices
1. Use Strong Passwords
Most IoT attacks begin with a default username and password. Always change these credentials when setting up a new device.
Create strong passwords with a length of 12 to 16 characters to make them difficult to guess. Combine letters with numbers and symbols to enhance security against hacking attempts and brute force attacks.
Avoid reusing passwords across IoT gadgets. Consider using password managers to store and manage credentials securely, especially if you have other devices.
2. Implement Strict Authentication Methods
IoT devices often suffer from poor authentication setups. These security flaws leave endpoints open to unauthorized access, making them an easy entry point for attackers.
To solve this, you can enforce strict authentication across all devices and systems. Use two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA), which requires users to submit another verification factor besides a password.
3. Create a Detailed Asset Inventory
Many organizations have IoT devices connected to their network without even knowing it. This lack of visibility increases security risks and makes incident response difficult.
Creating a complete IT asset inventory makes it easier to manage and secure IoT devices.
4. Segment IoT Devices on a Separate Network
Not all IoT gadgets need access to your main enterprise systems. A compromised IoT device can act as a bridge for attackers to reach sensitive areas of your network.
Network segmentation is an effective way to contain cyber threats and reduce the risk of lateral movement. Set up IoT devices on their own subnet or VLAN, separate from your business-critical systems.
5. Encrypt IoT Connections
Unencrypted network traffic between IoT devices and central systems is a serious vulnerability.
To stop this, use secure protocols like HTTPS, SSL, or TLS for all device communications. You should also encrypt the actual data to be transferred using AES or DES.
6. Patch and Update IoT Gadgets
Many IoT devices remain unpatched, making them vulnerable to cyber threats.
You can use patch management software to automatically scan your network for missing updates and deploy them.
7. Monitor IoT Devices Proactively
Continuous monitoring helps detect unusual behavior before it becomes a major problem.
Invest in remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools to track device health, login attempts, and resource usage for each IoT device without needing physical access.
8. Enforce Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Not every employee or system needs full access to IoT devices.
Implement role-based access controls to assign the necessary permissions based on a user’s role.
9. Document and Log Device Activities
Every action involving an IoT device, such as logins, updates, and configuration changes, should be recorded.
Store logs in a central location, ideally integrated with your RMM business solution and SIEM (security information and event management) platform.
10. Conduct Security Audits
Regular audits help identify security flaws that may go unnoticed during daily operations.
Use both automated scans and manual testing for full coverage. Include third-party devices in the scope, especially those connected through APIs.
11. Automate Routine Tasks
Managing IoT devices manually is slow and error-prone, especially as the number of endpoints grows.
Automation helps standardize actions like patch deployment, device discovery, password updates, and monitoring alerts.
12. Train IT Teams
Security tools are only as good as the people managing them.
Regular training keeps your IT team up to date on the latest threats, tools, and best practices for IoT security.
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