With the Internet of Things (IoT) taking over multiple industry sectors, security is no longer an optional concern. Securing every level of a modern IoT environment requires a multi-layered security strategy. For modern organizations, every connected sensor, wearable, edge device, or tag is a potential entry point for data thieves.
The article breaks down the vulnerabilities in critical system data that many companies fail to secure in their IoT security solutions. Also outlined are proven strategies that will help build and maintain practical, secure, and connected systems in modern IoT environments.
Understanding IoT Security Layers
For administrators, managers, and technology leaders, each IoT security layer must be addressed in the context of its innate system weaknesses. There are three broad entry points that hackers and bad actors will target: devices, networks, and data.
Device-Level Security
At the device level, security must focus on the distinct vulnerabilities of IoT devices. These devices are often small, limited in data resources, and physically accessible. This accessibility is an advantage, but also their primary vulnerability. It’s the reason that many bad actors will first try to exploit device-level security through on-site tampering.
The best strategies to protect against device-level hacking include:
- Embedded cryptography: These keys help the network establish a trusted identity for each authorized user, otherwise known as a “root of trust.”
- Secure boot: This verifies the integrity of the device’s firmware during startup.
- Automatic updates: Keeping firmware up to date and authentic guarantees that no tampering has taken place.
- Physical tampering protection: Seals and other enclosures can protect on-site devices from tampering and indicate when tampering has taken place.
These measures help administrators secure on-site physical devices and manage device behavior even during an attack.
Network Security
Network security is equally important to protecting facilities as on-site device security. Since IoT networks operate over both public and private data networks, this exposes them to risks such as data interception and network spoofing.
To mitigate these risks, network administrators isolate traffic from the IoT network in a process called segmentation. They use firewalls to monitor incoming and outgoing communications to detect intrusions or anomalies. They can also use VPNs to protect data transmissions.
The goal of network security is to maintain network visibility and respond to anomalies as quickly as possible.
Data Security
Data transmitted through the IoT system must be protected at all stages, including transmission, storage, collection, and usage. This is important in all industries, but regulated environments such as healthcare IoT networks should have additional security to satisfy regulatory compliance requirements.
Secure data networks deploy end-to-end encryption, tokenization, data lifecycle policies, and more to classify and secure data both in transit and in storage. Strong data governance allows network administrators to maintain compliance while reducing their business’s exposure to potential data threats.
Security Protocols and Standards
Modern IoT environments require interoperable security standards. These rules govern how information is exchanged. They’re essential in all industries, but especially healthcare, communications, and manufacturing, where configuration errors and security gaps can result in compliance issues.
Network administrators and managers should consider these factors when assessing their security protocols and standards:
- Authentication methods: To prevent unauthorized access, network admins can use mutual TLS, X.509 certifications, OAuth, or hardware-backed authentication.
- Encryption methods: Strong algorithms provide transport layer security, AES-256 for stored data, and more, avoiding outdated algorithms like WEP.
- Access controls: Only authorized users should be able to access IoT device resources. Role-based access control and attribute-based access control can be used to assign permissions based on job and enforce security rules based on the context of the access, including device type and location.
The goal of security protocols is to prevent external breaches while also mitigating the possibility of internal device mismanagement.
Implementing Security Best Practices
Maintaining IoT security solutions requires continuous improvements in device management and system monitoring.
This means reserving the ability to provision and decommission devices, automate security patches and firmware updates, and enforce access permissions. To remain proactive, managers need access to real-time log collection, network traffic readouts, and behavioral analyses.
With real-time network visibility, managers can spot anomalies and reduce the impact of potential threats. Threat detection should involve automated alert mechanisms, defined escalation paths, and integration with security operations.
Compliance and Regulatory Considerations
The goal of improving these systems with modern IoT security solutions is to reduce device downtime during a security threat and mitigate the damage. Modern businesses must be aware of the common vulnerabilities they need to secure, including:
- Unchanged credentials
- Open ports
- Misconfigured apps
- Unpatched firmware
- Third-party integrations
- Outdated software
Regular security checks and incident response tests can address these vulnerabilities with 5 key steps to containment:
- Role preparation
- Breach identification
- Containment
- Threat removal
- Recovery and review
Simulations can help businesses prepare for incidents and meet the standards of regulatory bodies, such as HIPAA, NIST, and FDA. Maintaining compliant IoT security solutions helps avoid penalties while building trust with network users and company stakeholders.
Secure Your IoT Environment Today
IoT device networks can provide businesses with incredible potential to innovate and modernize their systems. However, without security at each layer of the IoT environment, the business will be vulnerable to the latest threats.
Organizations launching thousands of connected devices or attempting to scale their first IoT pilot should equally prioritize their IoT security solutions. At Allpoint Wireless, our team customizes security architecture for the needs and limitations of each business. Our goal is to protect your IoT ecosystem, assure your stakeholders, and scale solutions to match your needs.
Contact our team of wireless service providers today to learn how your IoT security solutions can be secured at every layer of the network environment.