Every new product in the market has the ability to receive and send information through the internet. These devices are known as the IoT or Internet of things devices. You can use IoT devices for controlling your air conditioning remotely. All you need is a smartphone or computer for controlling these devices.

However, these devices are actually not secure. Attackers can easily target these devices. It is easy to hack into a network by targeting these devices. There are currently more than 8 billion active devices in the world. Thus, these devices have increased the work of security professionals. Hackers already know that these devices are not secured. Thus, they are always looking for new vulnerabilities. You should ensure that these devices are protected from attackers. In this article, we are going to talk about the risks associated with unsecured IoT devices.

Security issues related to IoT:

Businesses are using IoT devices for increasing the productivity of their employees. However, these devices also come with their own risks. These devices are connected with the public internet. Thus, they can be hacked just like other internet-enabled devices.

You should know about the vulnerabilities present in these IoT devices. If you are using IoT devices, then they will increase the attack surface. You will have more endpoints in your network. These network endpoints can actually act as entry points for bad actors.

The attack surface will increase with every new IoT device. Attackers will have more devices to target. They will target one of your IoT devices. Attackers can use these devices for gaining access to your network. Thus, you should ensure that you are addressing IoT security issues. Some of the major threats are:

Access to sensitive data

This is the biggest IoT challenge that companies are facing. These devices can sometimes store or access your sensitive data. If you are using security systems like doorbells and cameras, then they will have access to your sensitive data. Similarly, if your office printer is hacked, then attackers can check everything that is being scanned or printed.

Sabotage

If a hacker has access to your IoT device, then they can also control it remotely. If you are using devices like a coffee maker, then you don’t need to worry about sabotage. However, hackers might have access to important systems like the heating system. Attackers can sometimes even hold a vehicle as a hostage. They might ask for ransom from the car owner.

Botnets

Your IoT devices can also become a part of botnets. Cybercriminals will first infect a huge number of devices and this network is known as a botnet. These botnets can do various things like DDoS attacks. Most attackers will use these botnets for doing DDoS attacks.

In DDoS attacks, attackers will send a huge number of requests to your network. They will use all the infected devices for sending these requests. Thus, your network will go after some down. If your network can’t handle the increased traffic, then it will automatically go down. Thus, your website will be unavailable for real clients and users. Even sites like Netflix and Twitter need to deal with these attacks.

You maintain IoT security by implementing good security controls. The security controls will depend on the IoT devices that you are using. However, we are going to share some simple tips that will help you in protecting your IoT devices.

Use Strong Passwords

If you are using a weak password, then attackers can use simple attacks like brute force attacks for cracking your password. They will have complete access to your device. Most IoT devices will actually come with a default password which users forget to change. Thus, attackers will already know the password. They don’t even need to run a brute force attack for cracking the password.

Strong passwords will protect your device from brute force attacks. It will ensure that attackers can’t access your files and databases by hacking your IoT devices. Also, you should regularly change your IoT devices. It is important to protect your router by using strong passwords. If your router is compromised, then your entire network will get compromised.

Network security

Make sure that you are using a secure and up-to-date router. Also, you should use a firewall for protecting your routers. If your routers are compromised, then hackers can access your entire network. You should use endpoint security solutions for discovering vulnerabilities. This will help you in fixing vulnerabilities that are present in your network.

Security patches

Manufacturers will always release a security update after discovering a vulnerability. This will ensure that hackers can’t use known vulnerabilities for attacking your devices. You should regularly download security patches in your IoT devices. This will ensure that your devices are protected from the latest threats.

Consider necessity

The demand for IoT devices is increasing with time. Thus, manufacturers are working on multiple devices. They might forget about device security while creating these products. These IoT devices can be very helpful for doing some work. However, make sure that you are only allowing important IoT devices. You don’t need to buy an internet-enabled kettle for your office kitchen. It will only increase endpoints in your network. Thus, make sure that you are only using important IoT devices.

Conclusion

These devices can help you in doing a lot of work. IoT devices can help you in increasing your employee’s productivity. Also, it will help SMBs in saving a lot of money. However, you also need to deal with the security risks of these devices. Make sure that you are using the best security controls for protecting your network. If you don’t have access to an in-house IT security team, then you should work with an MSP. Experienced MSPs like Bleuwire will help you in securing your network endpoints. If you need more information regarding IT security services, then you can contact Bleuwire.

Contact us today to learn about Bleuwire™ services and solutions in how we can help your business.