The Internet of Things (IoT) can bring various benefits to your organization; yet, it can also introduce several new security risks. If your business does not recognize the significance of Internet of Things (IoT) security, it will continue to introduce new threats without even realizing them.
Let’s have a closer look at the best practices that your firm may apply to enhance the overall security of your IoT devices.
Use Device Discovery to Gain Complete Visibility
To begin, identify what types of devices have been linked to your network and maintain an accurate and up-to-date inventory of all Internet of Things assets. To ensure that all devices are correctly acknowledged, you should ideally use an advanced Internet of Things security solution. Gather information on the device’s manufacturer and model ID, as well as its serial number, hardware, software, and firmware versions, setup, and supporting operating systems.
Moreover, it is also worth noting that binary analysis tools can be used to find any security vulnerabilities in your IoT devices.
Choose a Secure Vendor
When it comes to acquiring Internet of Things devices for your business, you should choose a company that prioritizes information security.
If a corporation does not prioritize cybersecurity, there is a considerable chance that the products it sells include vulnerabilities that will not be remedied by software updates. Therefore, both devices and users could be subject to cyberattacks.
Embrace a Zero Trust Model
Traditional security models require a device and its user to be examined and authorized just once when the device attempts to connect to the network for the first time.
In contrast, the zero-trust security paradigm mandates that every Internet of Things device and user be verified and authenticated before connecting to an Internet of Things network. In this manner, you can validate everyone’s identity while also preventing unauthentic items.
Implement Multi-Factor Authentication
Using multi-factor authentication, often known as MFA, it is possible to increase the degree of security for Internet of Things devices with no effort. Using multi-factor authentication, your firm may add a degree of security while accessing Internet of Things security devices. After you enter your password, you will be prompted to input a second form of authentication.
The second method of authentication is often linked to an asset owned by the business. One possibility is that the firm’s equipment will receive a time-sensitive pin. You must first enter the password and then the personal identification number (PIN) to gain access to the device.
Prioritize Based on Risks
Even though you should strive to keep all endpoints in your Internet of Things system secure at all times, the fact is that owing to our limited resources, this ideal state is not always achievable.
Make a list of all of your assets and endpoints, and then rank their relevance in your IoT network. Priority should be given to the most essential assets when creating IoT security for your network. This will ensure that activities continue to function smoothly.
Update Passwords Regularly
Passwords must be changed regularly to prevent hackers from breaking into your Internet of Things security equipment and having unfettered access to it. However, how often should you change them? Even though some firms require staff to change their passwords on all of their accounts and devices every 30, 60, or 90 days, this practice may be counterproductive.
Changing your passwords too often may reduce the amount of security that is maintained on your account.
Perform Security Training
Technical and non-technical staff may be trained in IoT cybersecurity rules and procedures. Compliance requires SecOps or DevOps security awareness training for technical staff. Security awareness training should incorporate phishing simulations to help users recognize and report phishing emails and text-based frauds, which may also attack IoT devices.
Develop an Incident Response Plan
Even with the best protection, incidents may occur. A well-documented incident response plan should include roles and responsibilities, testing and modification, communication and cooperation, and so on.
Cyberattack detection and response should be part of the incident response plan. Tabletop testing of the incident response plan should be done regularly to enhance and check its efficacy for the key use cases that the company may confront if the policy is violated.
Check Everything Regularly
Perform frequent penetration testing to assess each device’s security against incoming attacks and thoroughly investigate all hardware and software solutions before integrating them into the Internet of Things network. Extra tests may probably be required to check for security issues, but this will depend on the solution.
Also Read: How to Turn off Amazon Sidewalk on Your Connected Devices