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What’s the Future of IoT Security for Businesses?

IDC Survey Finds Over a Third of Businesses Hit by Ransomware

What's the Future of IoT Security for Businesses?

What is the future of Internet of Things (IoT) security for businesses? Why does IoT security matter now more than ever? How does the future of IoT Security intersect with the future of enterprise digital perimeters? 

Enterprises appear to be of two minds concerning IoT devices. On the one hand, IoT devices can help develop more flexible and agile business environments. Additionally, they can help gather new types of information. 

On the other hand, IoT security remains a consistent concern for enterprises. In fact, businesses often refuse to embrace IoT devices because of their security concerns

However, the future of IoT security doesn’t posit fewer devices. If anything, IoT devices look to expand, potentially numbering in the billions within the next few years. Therefore, your enterprise must prepare for the future of IoT security, especially relating to how it might change your IT environment’s growth.

Download Link to Endpoint Security Buyer's Guide

 

The Future of IoT Security

More Data Monitoring

What information your IoT devices depends largely on the device and its functions in your IT environment. The same applies to the data generated by those IoT devices. In either case, a current issue in IoT security concerns the access IoT has to sensitive data and the movement of sensitive data overall. With enough time, hackers could theoretically use a connected kettle to gain your business’ WiFi password.

Therefore, IoT security depends on intra-network data loss prevention. This tool helps ensure that IoT devices can’t simply access data to which they aren’t entitled. Further, it prevents malicious actors from moving data through network nodes or out of the network; instead, it keeps all of the data stored securely until an authorized user decides to move it. This can apply to devices as much as people.

Integration with Backup

When we discuss IoT security, the conversation usually hinges on endpoint security. Certainly, this stems from accurate beliefs. After all, IoT devices represent one more aspect of the hardware-based digital perimeter; each device opens another potential attack vector for external threat actors. Without the visibility into every device brought by endpoint security, hackers could find a solid foothold for infections. 

However, the worst might still happen regardless of the precautions you take. Even the strongest cybersecurity can’t prevent 100 percent of all malware. So you need to have a backup plan for your devices via backup and disaster recovery solutions. These integrate with endpoint security to mitigate the damage done by ransomware and other forms of malware, all of which can infect IoT devices. 

Unnecessary Capabilities

Of course, the future of IoT security depends in large part on your own commitment to cybersecurity and the steps you take to ensure it. For example, many IoT devices come with default administrator passwords which are easily guessed or cracked. Your security team needs to take the time to reset these passwords wherever possible. Further, you need to turn off unnecessary capabilities on each device which could hamper cybersecurity efforts and protections. 

The goal is to limit intrusions and mitigate the effectiveness of intrusions which do occur. 

Updates and Patches

Finally, Iot security depends on making sure that IoT devices receive regular updates to their security firmware and software. Like all devices, the updates these devices receive contains vital security patches and threat intelligence. Unfortunately, many IoT developers fail to make patching these devices easy (if they bother to do so at all). The responsibility falls to you. 

You can’t set it and forget it. You need to participate. 

To learn more about IoT security, check out our Endpoint Security Buyer’s Guide.  

Download Link to Endpoint Security Buyer's Guide

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