IoT Security
Article | October 11, 2023
The Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) markets have experienced explosive growth as a result of the digital industrial revolution that followed the COVID-19 epidemic. To fully benefit, however, organizations have had to handle security concerns associated with these revolutionary technologies. Therefore, finding the correct security strategy is crucial for any organization because of the increasing dependency on IoT and IIoT to manage essential business systems.
IoT and IIoT can be implemented quickly, but they come with inherent vulnerabilities. This risks businesses from cyberthreats such as device theft, spoofing, denial of service attacks, and data breaches or siphoning. Attacks of this nature adversely affect an organization's operations, finances, safety, and reputation.
Many IoT and IIoT devices have passwords hard-coded into their firmware, making it challenging to patch or update security, which is a significant problem. Even when security is deployed on a device, it can usually be bypassed by taking advantage of a variety of known weaknesses. As a result, IT teams may find it challenging to identify an occurrence when IoT or IIoT devices are compromised before affecting systems and data.
Mitigating IoT and IIoT Security Risks
Separate IIoT and wireless devices from the SCADA or ICS network. Micro-segmentation allows only authorized device connectivity in certain circumstances.
Control network access by monitoring what connects and validating each device's security.
Demand visibility across all enterprise security networks and devices. This should be centralized so all devices, networks, risks, traffic, and policies can be handled in real-time across production and IT environments.
Use an intrusion protection system (IPS) to identify threats and patch IoT and IIoT devices virtually. Counter unexpected attacks with active protection and deception techniques.
It's crucial to check that security solutions can grow automatically to meet business requirements before using them. This entails responding to network changes, foreseeing risks and controlling them proactively, and offering real-time threat intelligence.
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Industrial IoT, IoT Security
Article | July 11, 2023
Driving digital transformation in manufacturing: Embracing seamless connectivity, data integration and risk-proof IoT security for enhanced efficiency, product quality, and innovation in industry 4.0.
Contents
1. Introduction to IoT Security in the Connected Era
1.1 Significance of IoT Security for Business Resilience
1.2 Current Scenario of IoT Security
2. Next-Gen Authentication and Authorization for IoT Devices
3. Secure Ecosystems for Businesses Through IoT Network Access Control
4. Quantum Cryptography: Fortifying IoT Data Protection
5. IoT Security Providers for Connectivity in Businesses
5.1 Armis
5.2 Mocana
5.3 Inside Secure
5.4 V5 Systems
5.5 Nozomi Networks
5.6 Dragos
5.7 Claroty
5.8 ForgeRock
5.9 Praetorian
5.10 Security Innovation
6. Key Takeaways
1. Introduction to IoT Security in the Connected Era
In the connected era, the proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has brought unparalleled convenience and efficiency to businesses and individuals alike. The interlinking of devices and their efficient networking is the need of the hour for businesses to function effectively with maximum productivity. However, IoT security has become paramount with the exponential growth of interconnected devices. Ensuring the security and integrity of these devices and the data they handle is crucial for businesses to safeguard their operations, protect customer privacy, and maintain trust in the digital ecosystem.
1.1 Significance of IoT Security for Business Resilience
IoT security in businesses encompasses a comprehensive approach to identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential vulnerabilities throughout the IoT ecosystem. This includes implementing robust authentication mechanisms, encryption protocols, and access controls to prevent unauthorized access. Monitoring and updating IoT devices to address emerging threats is essential to maintaining a robust security posture.
Business resilience requires staying proactive in the face of ever-evolving cyber threats. Regular security assessments, vulnerability testing, and incident response planning are essential to identifying and addressing potential weaknesses in IoT devices before malicious actors can exploit them. This proactive approach enables organizations to respond to security incidents swiftly, minimize the impact of a breach, and recover operations more efficiently.
1.2 Current Scenario of IoT Security
IoT security requires the integration of cutting-edge technologies, such as AI and ML, to proactively detect and respond to cyber threats. Businesses can identify patterns, anomalies, and potential security risks by analyzing the vast amounts of data generated by IoT devices. Advanced security measures also involve securing communication channels and adopting secure coding practices to minimize the risk of data breaches or tampering. Correct and legitimate information in IoT security is crucial, as inadequate security measures can expose businesses to significant risks. Cyberattacks targeting IoT devices, such as botnets, ransomware, and data breaches, have already resulted in substantial financial losses and reputational damage for organizations worldwide. To stay ahead of malicious actors, businesses must prioritize ongoing security training, collaborate with industry experts, and adhere to established security standards.
2. Next-Gen Authentication and Authorization for IoT Devices
The future of IoT security relies on next-generation authentication and authorization mechanisms designed to address the unique challenges of IoT environments. Biometric and behavioral authentication techniques offer enhanced security by verifying user identity based on physical or behavioral characteristics, adding an extra layer of protection for IoT devices. Context-aware access control adapts permissions dynamically based on contextual factors such as device location and user behavior, ensuring secure access in dynamic IoT networks. Additionally, smart manufacturing leveraging blockchain technology provides immutable and decentralized identity management, mitigating the risk of identity fraud and enhancing trust in IoT ecosystems. Embracing these advanced authentication and authorization approaches allows businesses to fortify the security of their IoT devices and establish a resilient foundation for the connected future.
3. Secure Ecosystems for Businesses Through IoT Network Access Control
IoT network access control plays a pivotal role in ensuring the security and integrity of business ecosystems. With the proliferation of IoT devices, controlling and securing access to these interconnected devices becomes paramount. Implementing robust network access control mechanisms helps businesses establish secure network segmentation, granting specific access privileges based on roles and responsibilities. Segmenting IoT devices from critical systems can contain potential breaches, limiting the impact on the entire network. Moreover, secure device authorization is essential for vetting and authenticating IoT devices before granting network access. Advanced authentication mechanisms, such as two-factor or certificate-based authentication, provide an extra layer of protection, ensuring that only trusted devices can join the network. This fortifies the ecosystem against unauthorized or compromised devices, reducing the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks.
In the digital era, where data is a critical asset, network access control is not only a technical imperative but also a business necessity. Businesses must prioritize implementing these advanced access control measures to safeguard their ecosystems, protect sensitive data, and maintain customer trust. A secure IoT ecosystem fosters business resilience, allowing organizations to fully leverage the transformative potential of IoT while mitigating security risks effectively.
4. Quantum Cryptography: Fortifying IoT Data Protection
The technology is shifting towards quantum computing, which possesses superior processing capacity. It can readily circumvent existing cryptographic algorithms. Quantum cryptography is a secure method for encrypting data and assuring the highest level of security by providing only a single secret key to decrypt, only in the data's owner's possession. In contrast to traditional quantum computers, quantum computing's cryptography relies on physical rather than mathematical properties.
It is a completely impenetrable system; imitating or viewing any data protected by encoded encryption in a quantum state is impossible. It is also impervious to any quantum computing applications. Public key cryptography algorithms, which are highly secure and ensure data protection against any quantum computer cyberattack, provide this protection against any quantum computer cyberattack.
5. IoT Security Providers for Connectivity in Businesses
5.1 Armis
Armis provides the foremost asset intelligence platform on the market, designed to address the new threat landscape created by connected devices. Without an agent, it offers rich facts and context for device identification and classification, including manufacturer, model, IP and MAC addresses, OS, reputation, and usernames. The platform monitors device behavior and detects active vulnerabilities and threats in real-time. Armis provides reliable threat detection and response using premium threat intelligence feeds and device behavior insights. The Armis Threat Detection Engine quickly protects the environment by combining threat intelligence sources. Policy violations and threat detections can be enforced automatically or manually, allowing companies to disconnect or quarantine suspicious or malicious devices through network infrastructure or integrated security solutions. Armis Agentless Device Security Platform installs easily without network changes. It enhances infrastructure to protect assets. Its technology provides visibility, proactive threat detection, and effective cybersecurity management to protect vital assets and company activities.
5.2 Mocana
Mocanacyber security for the Internet of Things, operational technology, and vital infrastructure. Mocana's tightly integrated solutions assist businesses in mitigating the risk of a cyber-attack, adhering to industry standards, and safeguarding intellectual property by ensuring that devices and processes are trusted end-to-end, from device fabrication to deployment. DigiCert for Connected Devices offers a streamlined and efficient solution for seamless application integration and migration, eliminating the need for custom code across various systems. This approach enhances resilience, maintains continuous perimeter security, and increases agility in responding to vulnerabilities or attacks. Digital trust is at the core of every endpoint, securing and hardening devices in the field with plug-and-play applications. Immutable identity simplifies device discovery and identification, streamlining compliance audits and providing real-time oversight of the entire IoT environment. Secure boot processes, remote shutdown capabilities, and comprehensive visibility and control over network connections further enhance security.
5.3 Inside Secure
Inside Secureis a leading provider of security solutions for mobile and connected devices. They offer a comprehensive software portfolio, silicon IP, tools, and expertise to safeguard customers' transactions, content, applications, and communications. With a strong focus on security, the company delivers products with advanced technical capabilities that cover a wide range of security requirement levels. They serve various demanding markets, including network security for IoT, content & application protection, and mobile payment & banking. Inside Secure's technology plays a crucial role in protecting solutions for a diverse range of customers, including service providers, content distributors, security system integrators, device vendors, and semiconductor manufacturers. Their deep security expertise and experience allow them to deliver innovative and differentiated security solutions to address the evolving security challenges in the rapidly changing landscape of mobile and connected devices.
5.4 V5 Systems
V5 Systems a technology firm recognized for introducing the world’s inaugural edge computing platform designed specifically for outdoor environments. The company has established a comprehensive solution addressing outdoor security, power, and computing requirements. V5 Systems delivers advanced outdoor security solutions along with a versatile computing platform capable of supporting various third-party applications. Additionally, the innovative ongoing power platform developed by V5 Systems enables unparalleled computing capabilities in any outdoor setting. With a commitment to leading the charge in Industrial IoT technology advancements, V5 Systems is dedicated to ongoing innovation. While the company prioritizes its customers and partners, ensuring the delivery of products and services with the highest level of enterprise support and customer care; it is focused on fostering a safer, smarter world, empowering stakeholders.
5.5 Nozomi Networks
Nozomi Networks specializes in protecting critical infrastructure from cyber threats, offering a unique platform that combines network and endpoint visibility, threat detection, and AI-powered analysis for faster and more effective incident response. To mitigate IoT data security challenges, Nozomi Networks recommends starting with the assumption that IoT devices are inherently insecure and each device can serve as a vulnerable entry point into the network and business processes. Key strategies to address IoT security challenges include network Segmentation by limiting connectivity of IoT devices and networks to the business network, Vulnerability Management and Cybersecurity Monitoring by Monitoring network traffic, which provides insight into device behavior and helps identify malicious events and zero-day attacks. It helps organizations identify all communicating assets on their networks, detect vulnerable OT and IoT assets, monitor IoT cybersecurity threats and process reliability.
5.6 Dragos
Dragoswitha global mission to safeguard civilization's industrial infrastructure, offers influential industrial cybersecurity technology through the Dragos Platform. This platform gives customers visibility into their ICS/OT assets, vulnerabilities, threats, and response actions. The strength of the Dragos Platform lies in its ability to incorporate Dragos's industry-leading OT threat intelligence and insights from the Dragos services team into the software. Additionally, Dragos adopts a community-focused approach, allowing customers access to the most extensive array of industrial organizations for collective defense and broad visibility. To ensure compliance with OT cybersecurity controls, Dragos provides industrial cybersecurity solutions tailored to meet cybersecurity control requirements, including NERC-CIP, TSA Pipeline, US Federal BOD, EU NIS, KSA OTCC, and more. Furthermore, Dragos WorldView Threat Intelligence provides situational awareness of adversary activity and vulnerabilities affecting industrial sectors, including adversary research, strategic intelligence reports and vulnerability analysis.
5.7 Claroty
Clarotyisa leading provider of industrial cybersecurity solutions, empowering organizations to secure cyber-physical systems across industrial, healthcare (IoMT), and enterprise environments, known as the Extended Internet of Things (XIoT). Their unified platform integrates with customers' existing infrastructure to offer a range of controls, including visibility, risk and vulnerability management, threat detection, and secure remote access. It offers Ongoing security and compliance posture management, including full asset inventory across the XIoT, A zero-trust security architecture critical for minimizing cyber risk in OT environments and Proactive threat detection and mitigation to address the difficulty of responding to evolving threats. With extensive experience in cyber risk management, Claroty provides robust solutions that cater to a wide range of industries, including electric, oil & gas, manufacturing, building automation systems, chemical, government, water, food & beverage, mining, transportation, and pharmaceutical.
5.8 ForgeRock
ForgeRock is a leading digital identity provider that offers modern and comprehensive IAM solutions for consumers, employees, and IoT devices. Their AI-powered identity platform enables organizations to achieve Zero Trust and Continuous Adaptive Risk and Trust Assessment (CARTA) security models quickly and efficiently across hybrid IT environments.ForgeRock helps organizations deliver Zero Trust and CARTA security by continuously identifying and remediating user access risks using AI-powered analytics. With ForgeRock Intelligent Access, organizations can build secure and dynamic user journeys without impacting IT resources or application performance. The platform allows authentication and authorization with context, such as user, device, behavior, and location. ForgeRock enables the infusion of modern identity into legacy systems and environments, applying Zero Trust principles across the organization. They provide free downloads and offer resources for organizations to learn more about their solutions and implement a robust zero-trust strategy.
5.9 Praetorian
Praetorian offers end-to-end Internet of Things product security evaluations and certifications, ensuring the security of IoT products from chip to cloud. Their solutions cover various technological domains, including embedded devices, firmware, wireless communications protocols, web and mobile applications, cloud services and APIs, and back-end network infrastructure. They have developed research-driven evaluation methodologies to address emerging security challenges based on the OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS). This approach allows for tiered pricing based on the comprehensiveness of the security review, accommodating different testing and budget requirements. They employ various techniques to uncover unknown vulnerabilities in their professional security evaluations, depending on the level of rigor required.
5.10 Security Innovation
Security is a reputable authority in software security, assisting organizations in building and deploying more secure software. The company specializes in software security, where traditional information security and business consultants often struggle. Security Innovation offers progressive training covering the full spectrum of IoT software assurance for builders, operators, and defenders. Security Innovation conducts IoT security testing for IoT and embedded systems to ensure the secure implementation of IoT software and firmware. They meticulously review connected devices' security threats and attack surfaces, examining physical, communication, infrastructure, and application levels. Their precision security testing focuses on high-risk areas that attackers are likely to target. IoT security testing outputs include security and functional objectives, identified attack vectors, and guidance on fixing vulnerabilities through mitigating controls.
6. Key Takeaways
Exploring the IoT security landscape in the era of connectivity is crucial as the Internet of Things continues to expand and impact various industries. As the number of interconnected devices surges, the IoT security landscape will become increasingly complex, with new threats and vulnerabilities constantly emerging. The need for advanced security measures and proactive cybersecurity strategies will be more critical than ever before. Innovations in device-based authentication and authorization mechanisms, such as biometric and behavioral authentication, as well as context-aware access control, will enhance the security of IoT ecosystems.
Furthermore, industry-wide collaboration and adopting security standards will be essential to building a resilient IoT security landscape. Manufacturers, developers, and stakeholders must prioritize security by design, ensuring that IoT devices are built with safety as a fundamental principle. Implementing secure development practices, conducting regular security audits, and establishing effective incident response plans will bolster IoT security.
Addressing security challenges becomes paramount as IoT devices become more interconnected and play a significant role in critical operations. With the growing adoption of IoT, a proactive approach to IoT security is essential to ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data and maintain the trust of users and customers. By prioritizing IoT security and taking proactive measures, organizations can fully realize the benefits of connectivity while mitigating the risks associated with the ever-expanding IoT landscape.
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Enterprise Iot
Article | May 11, 2023
Explore the world of readings on IoT security, to address complex cyber security challenges and privacy issues. It caters to a wide range of readers including industrialists, students & enthusiasts.
The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized industries, enabling innovative applications and improved efficiency. However, along with the numerous benefits of the IoT comes the pressing need for robust security measures. As IoT devices become more prevalent and interconnected, their risks and vulnerabilities also increase. The experts in the domain must stay updated with the latest security practices and techniques to ensure IoT systems' integrity, confidentiality, and availability. A wide range of books has been explicitly tailored address these security concerns.
1. Analytics for the Internet of Things (IoT)
Author: Andrew Minteer
Analytics for the Internet of Things (IoT): Intelligent analytics for your intelligent devices provides a comprehensive guide for businesses aiming to make informed decisions and gain greater control over their IoT infrastructure. Written by an expert in the field, this book equips readers with the essential knowledge and techniques to solve the unique challenges associated with IoT and extract valuable insights from vast amounts of data. The book begins by tackling the complex task of extracting value from large volumes of often complex IoT data, empowering readers to make data-driven decisions. Strategies to address data quality concerns are discussed, ensuring that readers are equipped to handle the inherent challenges. It offers readers approaches to optimize business value and bring down costs. Scaling both data storage and analytics is a critical consideration in IoT deployments, and the book provides practical insights into handling scale effectively. The book covers a range of topics, including transmission protocols, data flow, value extraction, geospatial analytics, machine learning, and optimizing business value.
2. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
Editors: R. Anandan, Suseendran Gopalakrishnan, Souvik Pal, Noor Zaman
One of the essential IoT security books, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT): Intelligent Analytics for Predictive Maintenance comprehensively explores how the industrial internet is transforming through increased network agility and the ability to deploy, automate, integrate artificial intelligence, orchestrate, and secure diverse use cases at hyperscale. The adoption of industrial automation on a large scale is revolutionizing business processes, with the market for industrial robots projected to reach $73.5 billion by 2023. The book highlights how IoT industrial automation provides numerous advantages, including enhanced efficiency, high accuracy, cost-effectiveness among others. This book presents real-world case studies in IIoT, robotic and intelligent systems, and web-based applications. The content is tailored to appeal to a broad audience, including working professionals, educators, and researchers in various technical disciplines. The book provides industry leaders with valuable insights by proposing business models that revitalize the workforce.
3. IoT and OT Security Handbook
Authors: Smita Jain, Vasantha Lakshmi, Foreword: Dr Rohini Srivathsa
IoT and OT Security Handbook: Assess risks, manage vulnerabilities, and monitor threats with Microsoft Defender for IoT is a comprehensive guide that equips industrial security, IoT security, and IT security professionals with the knowledge and tools to effectively address cybersecurity challenges in the rapidly evolving world of IoT and OT. In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where digital transformation and connected industries dominate, the book sheds light on the pressing security concerns that must be addressed to ensure data protection and operational resilience. Through a deep dive into the Purdue model of reference architecture, readers gain a solid understanding of common cyber-attacks prevalent in IoT and OT environments. The centerpiece of the book revolves around Microsoft Defender for IoT, a powerful security solution specifically designed to safeguard IoT and OT ecosystems. Furthermore, the concept of zero trust, which is crucial for establishing a robust security foundation, is thoroughly explored with practical insights on its implementation in the context of IoT devices.
4. Practical Internet of Things Security
Author: Brian Russell, Drew Van Duren
Practical Internet of Things Security: Design a security framework for an Internet connected ecosystem is an indispensable guide that navigates the complex realm of securely building and deploying systems in our IoT-connected world. The book primarily targets IT security professionals, security engineers, and individuals responsible for ensuring the security of their organization's data in the IoT landscape. However, it also serves as a valuable resource for business analysts and managers seeking to understand and address the security challenges associated with IoT deployments. Readers will gain a wealth of knowledge and practical skills, including breaking down cross-industry barriers, building a rock-solid security program, applying systems security engineering and privacy-by-design principles, and harnessing cloud-based systems. It delves into the unique security challenges associated with IoT and provides practical guidelines for architecting and deploying a secure IoT ecosystem within an enterprise.
5. IoT: Security and Privacy Paradigm (Internet of Everything (IoE))
Editors: Souvik Pal, Vicente García Díaz, Dac-Nhuong Le
IoT: Security and Privacy Paradigm is a comprehensive and authoritative resource that explores the evolution of security and privacy issues within the realm of the IoT. This book serves as a single reference point for students, researchers, and practitioners seeking to better understand the IoT security platforms and privacy landscape. The book adopts security engineering and privacy-by-design principles to design and implement robust cyber-security solutions within IoT ecosystems. It takes readers on a journey, starting with exploring security issues in IoT-enabled technologies and their practical applications. The book provides practical guidance on tackling security challenges and constructing a secure infrastructure for IoT devices. The book thoroughly discusses security challenges and solutions in areas such as RFID, WSNs, and IoT. The primary audience for this book includes specialists, researchers, graduate students, designers, experts, and engineers focused on security-related issues and research.
6. IoT Security Issues
Author: Alasdair Gilchrist
IoT Security Issues addresses the rapid proliferation of internet-connected devices, where security often takes a backseat to product development. This book delves into the inherent vulnerabilities and IoT security challenges, offering insights on how to address and mitigate these issues. By examining the root causes of these problems and emphasizing the importance of programming and security best practices, the author presents practical solutions to combat the lax security processes prevalent in the IoT landscape. This book caters to a wide range of readers, including programmers who have yet to focus on the IoT, security professionals, and individuals with a keen interest in hacking and making. While a basic programming background would be beneficial for certain chapters later in the book, the core content is explained in a manner that is approachable for readers from various backgrounds.
7. Security and Privacy Issues in IoT Devices and Sensor Networks
Editors: Sudhir Kumar Sharma, Bharat Bhushan, Narayan C. Debnath
This book, of all the IoT security books, delves into the critical aspects of security breaches in IoT and sensor networks, offering a comprehensive exploration of potential solutions. The book takes a two-fold approach, thoroughly examining the fundamentals and theoretical foundations of sensor networks and IoT security. It then explores the practical IoT security solutions that can be implemented to enhance the security of these elements, providing illuminating case studies to reinforce understanding. The book is an invaluable resource for industry professionals working with wireless sensor networks (WSN) and IoT systems, enabling them to elevate the security of these interconnected systems. Additionally, researchers, material developers, and technology specialists grappling with the intricate nuances of data privacy and security enhancement will find the book's comprehensive information highly beneficial.
Final thoughts
IoT security for professionals involves implementing secure communication protocols, strong authentication, device management, data encryption, access control, and regular security audits. It is crucial to stay updated, maintain a security-aware culture, and prioritize the ongoing monitoring and adaptation of security measures to address emerging threats.
The above listed books delve into various aspects of IoT security, providing insights, strategies, and practical solutions to mitigate risks and protect IoT ecosystems. This article highlights some essential IoT security books that are indispensable resources for IoT professionals striving to enhance the security posture of their organizations. They also provide real world case studies, best practices and strategies to minimize risks.
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