Internet of Things (IoT) devices are physical devices that have internet connectivity – and which increasingly form part of our everyday lives. IoT equipment now appear in most business environments, wirelessly communicating and gathering information from a surrounding environment – securing these devices is an essential part of ensuring that you have fully effective IoT cyber security for your business.

Why does your business need to secure its IoT devices?

Where this isn’t secure then an organisation is being exposed to a whole range of different risks. For example, hackers are increasingly targeting smart devices and, once inside a network in this way, could go on to penetrate deep into systems and technology. There are several key threats to be aware of when it comes to IoT devices, including that many of these devices lack effective inbuilt security – or the security that does exist may be misconfigured. IoT devices can also be used as vectors for multiple malware attacks and an unsecured IoT endpoint has been found to be the root cause of data breaches in many of these kinds of attacks.

What can you do to secure IoT devices within your business?

• Ensure you have complete transparency. Create a map of connected IoT devices so you can see where the vulnerabilities are. Record all vital data, from features to manufacturer IDs and serial numbers, as well as any identified vulnerabilities in each device. Use automated scanning tools to map connected devices and create a risk profile for each.
• Segment your networks. This means implementing separation within your networks so that if a breach happens via an IoT device, the attacker can only get so far. Make sure that you limit user privileges and that insecure devices are separated from your networks. Deploying zero-trust network solutions can achieve this for your business.
• Make sure IoT device updates are prioritised. Automated updates may not be available from certain IoT vendors and it’s vital that you have systems in place to ensure that your devices are running the latest protections. Make it a priority to always have the latest software uploaded and don’t disable any features on the device, as this can create gaps in your IoT cyber security.
• Implement strong password security. Many IoT devices ship with generic and easy to guess passwords so it’s vital that these are quickly changed. Without strong passwords, IoT devices are an easy entry point for attackers. Some devices can accommodate multi-factor authentication and using an enterprise-wide password manager can be very effective.
• Use real time monitoring of your IoT devices. This will show up any unusual or worrisome activity quickly and allow you to take action before incidents can escalate.
• Implement router security and encryption. Set your router security to the highest possible level and don’t use the default network and device names. Consider implementing encryption, as few IoT products come with this already embedded today.

Enable IoT cyber security with CyberHive Connect

If your business is using IoT devices, then taking steps to secure these is going to be essential. CyberHive’s tailored plans allow you to implement cyber security for your business, keeping within your budget without compromising on security. CyberHive Connect is exceptional for securing businesses and is designed with an array of IoT devices in mind. Contact us today and we can move forward together.