IoT Security
Article | July 5, 2023
Explore the emerging complexities of IoT data governance with 7 key challenges to tackle. Address data privacy, security, and ethical concerns, empowering your business for success in 2023 and beyond.
Contents
1 The Case for Maintaining IoT Data Governance
2 Challenges of IoT Data Governance
2.1 Lack of Organizational Commitment
2.2 Data Privacy Concerns
2.3 Lack of Endpoint Security for IoT Devices
2.4 Issues with IoT Device Authentication
2.5 Increasing Volume of Unstructured Data
2.6 Unethical Use of IoT Data
2.7 Inadequate Data Governance Protocols
3 Addressing IoT Data Governance Challenges
3.1 Security by Design
3.2 Awareness Initiatives
3.3 Standardized Data Governance Policies
4 Conclusion
1 The Case for Maintaining IoT Data Governance
The growing use of IoT devices across various industries has caused a surge in data volume. Most of these devices store sensitive company data, which plays a crucial role in business operations but can have dire consequences if it falls into the wrong hands. Thus, companies need to understand what is IoT governance and its implementation to safeguard sensitive data from unauthorized access and malicious exploitation.
2 Top Challenges in IoT Data Governance for Businesses
2.1 Lack of Organizational Commitment
Organizational commitment is essential for effective IoT data governance. There needs to be a clear purpose and goals regarding data governance that are communicated to all stakeholders. Not focusing on organizational commitment can result in a lack of alignment between the organization's goals and the IoT data governance strategy, as well as uncertainty about ownership and accountability for data governance across the organization.
2.2 Data Privacy Concerns
Ensuring data privacy is a significant concern when implementing IoT data management to maintain IoT data governance security. With the vast amount of data generated by IoT devices, there is an increased risk of personal and sensitive data being compromised. Therefore, it is crucial to identify potential vulnerabilities, mitigate the risk of data privacy breaches in IoT environments, and anonymize user data for consumer devices.
2.3 Lack of Endpoint Security for IoT Devices
IoT devices are often designed with limited processing power and memory, and as such, many connected devices do not have built-in security features. This makes them attractive targets for hackers seeking to access confidential data or disrupt operations. Without proper endpoint security measures, IoT devices can be compromised, leading to data breaches, network downtime, and other security incidents that can compromise the entire system's integrity.
2.4 Issues with IoT Device Authentication
When IoT devices are designed without proper authentication mechanisms, it can be challenging to verify their identities. This results in possible unauthorized access, data breaches, and other security incidents. To supplement IoT data management practices, companies must implement secure authentication protocols specifically designed for IoT environments, such as device certificates, digital signatures, and multi-factor authentication, to maintain IoT data governance.
2.5 Increasing Volume of Unstructured Data
IoT devices generate vast amounts of data in various formats and structures, including text, images, audio, and video, which can be difficult to process, manage, and analyze. This data is often stored in different locations and formats, making it challenging to ensure quality and consistency. Moreover, this flood of unstructured data can contain sensitive information that must be protected to comply with regulations and standards. For effective IoT data governance, it is necessary to implement data classification, metadata management, and data quality management to make sense of unstructured data.
2.6 Unethical Use of IoT Data
IoT devices collect data that can be sensitive and personal, and misuse can lead to various negative consequences. Data from IoT devices can be used to develop insights, but it must be handled carefully to avoid privacy violations, discrimination, or other negative consequences. Ensuring data ethics requires organizations to consider the potential impacts of their data collection and use practices on various stakeholders. This involves addressing issues such as data privacy, data ownership, transparency, and bias in IoT data analytics.
2.7 Inadequate Data Governance Protocols
Without proper data governance protocols, IoT data may be inaccurate, incomplete, or difficult to access or analyze, reducing the effectiveness of IoT systems and limiting the potential benefits they can provide. Additionally, inadequate data governance protocols can lead to security and privacy vulnerabilities, potentially exposing sensitive data to unauthorized access or theft. This can result in legal and regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and a loss of customer trust.
3 Addressing IoT Data Governance Challenges
3.1 Security by Design
This approach involves integrating security and governance considerations into the design and development of IoT systems from the outset. This helps minimize vulnerabilities, prevent breaches that may compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of IoT data, and help maintain IoT data governance. In addition, by prioritizing security in the design phase, organizations can implement security controls and features tailored to their IoT systems' specific needs, which can help prevent unauthorized access, manipulation, or theft of IoT data.
3.2 Awareness Initiatives
IoT data governance challenges can arise due to an improperly trained workforce that may not recognize the purpose and benefits of data governance practices. Awareness initiatives can help organizations develop a culture of security and privacy. These initiatives can educate employees and stakeholders about the risks and best practices associated with IoT data governance, including the importance of data security, privacy, and ethical considerations. By raising awareness of these issues, organizations can promote a culture of responsible data management, encourage stakeholders to adhere to data governance policies and procedures, and reduce the risk of human error or intentional misconduct that could compromise IoT data.
3.3 Standardized Data Governance Policies
Collaboration between local, regional, and federal governments and businesses is essential to establishing frameworks for implementing IoT and related technologies within their jurisdictions. Cooperation between governments and enterprises is crucial for implementing a standardized IoT data governance policy. This will protect end-users by mandating basic standards in procurement processes and creating regulations and guidelines that promote responsible data governance.
4 IoT Data Governance: Future Outlook
Data is one of the most valuable resources for organizations today, and addressing the problem of IoT data governance will ensure that the IoT of enterprises is used effectively and responsibly. Straits Research reported that the worldwide data governance market had a worth of USD 2.1 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach an estimated USD 11.68 billion by 2030. IoT devices are a key driving factor behind the growth of the data governance market, and as the amount of data generated and the number of devices grows, so will the complexity of data governance. By maintaining strong data governance policies and tracking changes in policies and best practices, businesses can ensure compliance and maintain trust in the long run.
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IoT Security
Article | June 28, 2023
Find out the upcoming and established companies providing IoT security for businesses. These allow adopting best practices & make informed technology investment decisions, for secure performance.
IoT security helps implement strong authentication, encryption, and access controls for IoT devices, while regularly updating firmware and monitoring for threats, to ensure the security of interconnected systems and protect sensitive data in a business environment.
Here is a carefully curated list of 15 Top IoT security companies, providing security to IoT devices, thereby ensuring their privacy and integration.
1. Ordr Inc.
Ordr is a leading provider of connected device security solutions deployed in numerous organizations worldwide across industries like healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, retail, and government. Its platform addresses vital use cases such as healthcare and medical device security, real-time asset visibility, compliance, threat detection and response, IoT and OT security, Zero Trust segmentation, and NAC acceleration. Ordr has earned industry recognition as the KLAS Healthcare IoT Leader for three consecutive years and is featured in Gartner Market Guides for OT Security and Medical Device Security Solutions. Prominent investors, including Battery Ventures, Mayo Clinic Ventures, Kaiser Permanente Ventures, back Ordr. The SOC2-certified platform demonstrates its commitment to customer privacy and data security. Its comprehensive approach ensures organizations can protect patient care, maintain real-time asset inventory, detect threats, implement zero trust segmentation, accelerate NAC, and secure IT/OT environments.
2. Medigate by Claroty
Medigate is a solution that comprehensively addresses healthcare organizations' unique challenges. The need for a coordinated security strategy becomes paramount as the convergence of IT, OT, IoT, and physical systems continues in the clinical environment. Medigate provides the confidence to secure, manage, and gain insights from all devices connected to the network, including a wide range of medical devices with proprietary protocols and operational parameters. Protecting the network can be overwhelming, with thousands of devices from different manufacturers. Medigate's specialized approach ensures that security measures do not compromise device usability, eliminating the need for compromise between security and functionality. In terms of investors, Medigate has received backing from prominent organizations such as Siemens, BMWiVentures, and SoftBank. These partnerships reinforce Medigate's commitment to delivering innovative solutions that enhance cybersecurity and enable organizations to connect confidently.
3. Aryballe
One of the top IoT security companies, Aryballe combines biochemical sensors, advanced optics, and machine learning to create a unique digital olfaction solution. By mimicking the human sense of smell, Aryballe's objective is to collect, display, and analyze odor data, empowering companies to make more informed decisions. Aryballe's software suite complements this hardware, which offers user-friendly protocol and analysis tools. These tools enable R&D, quality, and manufacturing professionals to integrate digital odor data into their decision-making processes seamlessly. Aryballe's software and data solutions are particularly valuable to the automotive, food & beverage, consumer appliances, and flavor & fragrance industries. The odor displays and analysis provided by Aryballe's technology empower leaders in these sectors to make smarter business decisions. Additionally, Aryballe's digital olfaction solutions have applications for enhancing user experiences within the automotive and consumer appliance markets.
4. Timesys Corporation
Timesys is a leader and pioneer in the embedded software market, offering open-source software security, development tools, and engineering services. With a comprehensive end-to-end device security solution, it enables developers to implement strong security measures early in the design phase. It has extensive embedded development experience and serves a diverse customer base, including Global 500 companies in the medical, industrial, networking, aerospace, and consumer sectors. The company's global partner ecosystem comprises leading semiconductor manufacturers, board vendors, and distributors. Its security services include VigiShield Secure by Design, which focuses on integrating core security features into device designs, and Vigiles, a tool for monitoring and remediating vulnerabilities. Furthermore, it offers an embedded board farm for test automation and remote access infrastructure, facilitating collaborative software development and debugging processes.
5. QA Mentor
QA mentor is a one-stop solution for application and mobile app testing. It is an award-winning software by QA company headquartered in New York. With multiple certifications and a CMMI Level 3 SVC + SSD v1.3 appraisals, the company offers comprehensive software testing services to clients globally. QA Mentor serves various industries, including startups and Fortune 500 companies. Their unique selling points include customizable testing processes, flexible on-demand services, and economical pricing. They specialize in various QA services, such as test design and execution, mobile/browser compatibility testing, QA audit and process improvement, automation testing, performance testing, security testing, regression testing, crowdsourcing testing, and QA e-learning. With a state-of-the-art test lab, unique methodologies, and expertise in automation tools, QA Mentor stands out in the industry.
6. Mocana
Mocana is a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions for IoT, operational technology, and critical infrastructure. Their on-device cybersecurity software and lifecycle management platform enable manufacturers and industrial companies to build tamper-resistant self-defending systems. Mocana's integrated solutions help minimize the risk of cyber breaches, ensure compliance with industry standards, and protect intellectual property throughout the device lifecycle. Unlike traditional IT network security approaches, Mocana empowers devices to protect themselves and prevent malware installation. Their platform facilitates application development and updates, ensures device protection and hardening in the field, supports interoperability between legacy and new devices, and offers automated operations with centralized control.
7. Verimatrix
Verimatrix, one of the many IoT security companies, is a leading provider of people-centered security solutions that power the modern connected world. Their intuitive and frictionless security offerings protect digital content, applications, and devices across various industries. Major brands rely on Verimatrix to secure premium movies, live-streaming sports, sensitive financial and healthcare data, and mission-critical mobile applications. Verimatrix helps its customers deliver compelling content and experiences to millions of consumers worldwide by enabling trusted connections. Their solutions provide robust security and help partners accelerate market time, quickly scale their operations, safeguard valuable revenue streams, and attract new business opportunities. With a focus on plugging security holes, thwarting pirate and cyberattacks, and preserving revenue, Verimatrix plays a crucial role in protecting the digital ecosystem and ensuring the delivery of exceptional experiences in an unprotected digital world.
8. Keyfactor
Keyfactor is a trusted provider of identity-first security solutions that bring digital trust to the hyper-connected world. With a focus on machine and human identities, Keyfactor simplifies PKI, automates certificate lifecycle management, and secures every device, workload, and thing. By enabling organizations to establish and maintain digital trust at scale, Keyfactor helps them move quickly in a zero-trust environment. In the face of increasing cyber threats, Keyfactor addresses the challenges of securing 5G networks and communications, meeting evolving standards and scalability, and adapting to changing architectures. Keyfactor's flexible solutions can be deployed in various environments, including data centers, cloud, SaaS, or hybrid architectures. With a comprehensive PKI management platform, Keyfactor enables organizations to protect their networks and manage certificates efficiently.
9. Vdoo
Vdoo is a global leader in the product security space, offering a comprehensive platform for identifying and mitigating security issues. It is the only automated platform that provides end-to-end product security, helping organizations streamline their development and security processes while ensuring optimal product security. With Vdoo, development and security teams can efficiently address a wide range of security risks, including supply chain threats, configuration risks, standard compliance, and zero-day vulnerabilities. Vdoo's platform enables organizations to integrate security seamlessly into their DevOps workflows, automate compliance assurance, and fortify security across the software supply chain. By offering intelligent and automated security solutions from code to container to device, Vdoo empowers organizations to safeguard their software's integrity and protect against malicious activity.
10. CyberMDX
CyberMDX, a Forescout company is a leading provider of IoT security solutions focused on safeguarding healthcare delivery worldwide. Its cloud-based cybersecurity solutions support the advancement of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) by protecting connected medical devices. The CyberMDX solution offers comprehensive endpoint identification, vulnerability assessment, incident detection, response, and prevention capabilities. Deployed globally, CyberMDX seamlessly integrates with customers' existing environments through its scalable and agentless solution. It provides continuous, real-time discovery and visibility of all medical devices connected to clinical networks. Recognized as a representative vendor in the Gartner Market Guide for Medical Device Security Solutions, Forescout delivers robust cybersecurity capabilities for healthcare organizations. With its automated and customizable approach, Forescout ensures the security and integrity of medical devices and IoMT ecosystems.
11. Sepio
Among the many best IoT security companies, Sepio is a leading asset risk management platform that prioritizes asset existence over activity. Through its physical layer asset DNA profiling, Sepio offers customers actionable visibility, policy enforcement, and mitigation capabilities, empowering them to gain better control over all assets at scale. Regardless of whether the infrastructure is connected to IT, OT, or IoT, Sepio's trafficless monitoring ensures an asset-agnostic solution. Sepio's platform caters to various industries, including financial institutions, healthcare institutions, and critical infrastructures globally. The platform allows the discovery of both known and shadow assets, mitigates risks associated with uncontrolled assets, reduces hardware clutter, enforces asset policies, meets regulatory compliance, and seamlessly integrates with existing security tools. Sepio's asset risk management benefits extend to uncovering hidden asset risks, providing organizations with the necessary insights and tools to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses.
12. Nexusguard
Nexusguard, a provider of simplified DDoS protection solutions for both service providers and enterprises, provides a range of offerings, including cloud services, managed DDoS protection platforms, and professional training courses. It empowers organizations to effectively safeguard their networks and applications against DDoS attacks. For communications service providers (CSPs), Nexusguard offers managed cloud-based DDoS protection solutions that cover various aspects such as application protection, origin protection, edge protection, and DNS protection. These solutions ensure the secure operation of internet-facing websites, shield networks and systems from threats, scale up protection for internet uplinks and infrastructure, and keep DNS services up and running. Nexusguard's offerings also include the Nexusguard Bastions server, a purpose-built on premise solution for CSPs that seamlessly integrates the company's proprietary technologies and global cloud scrubbing capabilities into the CSP's environment.
13. IoTium
IoTium is a provider of secure, managed software-defined network infrastructure for industrial IoT applications. Its solution enables the secure connection of both legacy and greenfield mission-critical on-site machinery and automation systems to applications residing in data centers or the cloud. By offering zero-touch provisioning and eliminating complexities in scalable mass deployments, IoTium ensures seamless and secure connectivity at scale. IoTium's View Smart Building Cloud addresses these security risks by implementing a Zero-trust Network Architecture (ZTNA). This includes secure tunnels with end-to-end encryption, certificate-based device authentication, and secure remote access with multi-factor authentication. It offers centralized management and visibility of building networks and OT devices, along with the ability to deploy edge applications for real-time processing and optimizations.
14. SCADAfence
SCADAfence, one of the top IoT security solution companies is a global technology leader specializing in OT and IoT cybersecurity. It offers a comprehensive suite of industrial cybersecurity products designed to provide robust protection for large-scale networks. Its portfolio includes top-notch network monitoring, asset discovery, governance, remote access, and IoT device security solutions. By leveraging SCADAfence's solutions, organizations operating in critical infrastructure, manufacturing, and building management industries can ensure secure, reliable, and efficient operations. SCADAfence's solutions cater to various industries, such as manufacturing, critical infrastructure, and building management. With a commitment to providing valuable resources and insights, it maintains an informative blog and offers opportunities for customers to request a live demonstration of its solutions
15. Xage Security
Xage is a global leader in real-world security, offering zero-trust solutions for industrial cybersecurity. Its flagship product, the Xage Fabric, simplifies and accelerates digital operations across OT, IT, and cloud environments. By adopting a unified approach based on zero-trust principles, Xage enables secure remote access and identity-driven access management for operational assets. Its solution eliminates the vulnerabilities associated with traditional remote access methods and provides granular access control down to individual assets, reducing the attack surface area. With Xage, organizations benefit from simplified and friction-free remote access, strengthened cybersecurity with advanced controls like multi-factor authentication, and full visibility and control of remote sessions. Its solutions also enable secure session collaboration, protect file transfers, and mitigate malware and anomalous behaviors. With Xage, organizations can fortify their cybersecurity infrastructure, enhance productivity, and meet evolving security challenges.
Conclusion
To stay ahead in IoT security market ,it is important to keep an eye on prominent companies leading the way in this field. These companies offer innovative solutions and expertise to address the evolving challenges of IoT security. By following their advancements and leveraging their technologies, businesses can enhance their defenses and mitigate risks in the ever-expanding IoT landscape.
Follow the list of top 15 companies,provided above to strengthen cybersecurity with advanced controls, end-to-end encryption, certificate-based device authentication, secure remote access with multi-factor authentication, among others.They empower organizations to safeguard their software's integrity and protect against malicious activity. The companies play a crucial role in protecting the digital ecosystem and ensuring the delivery of exceptional experiences,analysing the IoT statistics, in an unprotected digital world.
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Article | January 29, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic turned the tides towards remote work and virtual connectivity. And even though growth seemed to have slowed down in 2020, experts see double-digit growth in the next few years. The tides may be turning but virtual connectivity and the tools required for remote growth are not slowing down in demand. As the tech world adapts to new shifts, IoT is among one of the most anticipated technologies to prosper in 2021.
Digital transformation has rapidly accelerated in the past year and if the experts are to be believed, 2021 shows promise for an even better year for technological advancement. According to IDC’s 2020-2024 forecast, spending will reach an annual growth rate of 11.3 percent. And with this, the number of connected devices is likely to grow up. Take a look at what will be the focus of IoT industry trends in 2021.
Privacy & Security
As smart homes are becoming the norm and you cannot throw a stone without hitting a smart device, one thing is clear—IoT devices are everywhere. People almost always forget smartphones when talking about IoT devices, but the fact is that smartphones are very much a part of the IoT ecosystem. And with the infusion of IoT in our everyday lives, questions about privacy and security are cropping up.
Just recently, as WhatsApp announced its new privacy policy, millions of users planned to migrate to other alternatives. This led to WhatsApp pushing back its privacy update and tech businesses taking note of changing winds.
In 2021, privacy and security will be at the forefront of IoT industry trends, as devices infuse further into the everyday lives of people. According to recent research, 90 percent of consumers lack confidence in IoT device security. And the onus of bolstering consumer confidence will be up to IoT businesses.
Workforce Management
According to Gartner’s “Top Strategic Technology Trends For 2021” report, IoT will be a large part of the office experience in 2021. As businesses are trying to avoid the losses that occurred in early 2020, workplaces are being geared up with RFID tags, sensors, and monitors to ensure social distancing measures, whether employees are wearing masks and overall health monitoring.
Additionally, many organizations have decided to move permanently to a remote mode and will rely more on IoT devices for connectivity. So we can expect better automated scheduling and calendar tools, more interactive video conferencing, and virtual meeting technology. In the case of fieldwork, IoT will offer an added factor of monitoring behavior.
Greener IoT
Experts predict that energy will be a crucial factor in the IoT industry trends in 2021. With smart grids, metering, and restoration resilience being powered by IoT, 2021 will move towards optimized energy consumption and devices that are designed to encourage energy-friendly practices.
What’s more? Smart engines and automobiles can be optimized to reduce their carbon footprint and become energy-friendly. As evidenced by the Paris summit and the wildfires in 2020, the world is becoming ecologically conscious. IoT devices in 2021 will focus heavily on reduced emissions, lowering air and ocean pollution, and minimizing power expenditure.
Location Data
As COVID-19 limited human interaction, location-based services soared during the pandemic. Businesses started leveraging location data to offer curbside pickup, virtual queues, and check-ins for reservations to enhance the customer experience during the pandemic.
According to experts, the use of location data will continue to be crucial for customer service and convenience in 2021. As people prefer being safe even as the vaccines are being delivered, location data will allow businesses to cater to their customers without compromising on customer or employee safety.
Digital twins
IoT is being helmed as the perfect technology partner for creating digital twins in many industries. As IoT collects a large amount of data through physical devices, this data can be reinterpreted to create the perfect digital twins. Also, IoT can offer visibility into the full product life cycle and unfold deeper operational intelligence. Companies like Siemens are already leveraging technologies like AIoT to design and create digital twins for product design and production. Coupled with AI, IoT will be used more commonly for creating digital twins in 2021.
A technology as dynamic as IoT can be leveraged for almost any application. Therefore, it may surprise us all in the way it progresses in 2021. However, experts believe that the above 5 IoT industry trends will rule 2021 for sure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the latest IoT industry trends?
The use of IoT in Healthcare, Artificial Intelligence, workforce management, and ecological conservation can be deemed as some of the latest trends in IoT.
What is the future scope of IoT?
As experts believe there will be over 85 billion connected devices by the end of 2021, and the numbers are promising for upcoming years, we can safely say that the future of IoT is indeed bright.
What industries are most likely to use the Internet of things technology?
IoT is a dynamic technology with applications in almost every industry. However, industries like healthcare, construction, manufacturing, tech, and resource management are most like to use IoT right now.
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