How to Ensure Secure Enterprise IoT Deployments

What’s the Current State of IoT Deployments and Security?

IoT applications open the door to new opportunities, but they also introduce heightened security risks. As IoT deployments increase, organizations must manage complex security challenges. Every device is a potentially exploitable endpoint. 

These three factors shape IoT system security:

1. Growing device numbers: The continued explosion of IoT devices in the field creates an ever-expanding attack surface.
2. Legacy system integration: Differences in “freshness” between old and new technologies create communication challenges when systems speak different languages.
3. Ecosystem diversity: The mix of devices from various manufacturers using different protocols increases complexity and security risks.

Why Are IoT Devices So Challenging to Secure?

IoT devices must send and receive data to and from the internet in real time. While these devices have become common, security is often lacking. Instead of using a security strategy to build security into the deployment from the ground up, it’s frequently tacked on as an afterthought. This leaves sensitive data or intellectual property exposed.
 
An after-the-fact approach to security is particularly problematic because:

• Once products are in the field, upgrades may be difficult or impossible to perform: A smart irrigation system installed on remote farms lacked reliable connectivity. It was nearly impossible to perform post-deployment firmware updates. 
• Making changes after deployment can be costly for companies: A manufacturer of connected medical devices had to recall thousands of units due to a critical vulnerability. They incurred millions in logistics and compliance costs.
• Some devices have computational limitations that affect their security capabilities: Low-power sensors in a smart home network cannot support advanced encryption algorithms due to limited CPU and memory resources. 
• Meeting regulatory compliance becomes much more challenging without security by design: A company rushed unsecured IoT cameras to market. It later faced fines and redesign costs to meet GDPR and cybersecurity certification requirements. 

These devices often have a long lifespan, like smart meters, which can operate in the field for a decade or more. There is an ongoing need to update the software they run to keep them secure. Organizations must secure data on the devices and safeguard information from the point of creation through the entire life cycle.

New Security Capabilities and Considerations

What should organizations know about this age of security and IoT? 

7 Steps to Secure IoT Devices

Maintaining end-to-end device and data security is complex. From device-level vulnerabilities to data transmission risks, organizations must navigate a range of potential threats. Enterprises should prioritize these essential steps to secure IoT devices.

1. Ensure Data Encryption

Data encryption is an essential component of cybersecurity protocol. However, in the world of IoT, it is sometimes overlooked. Software and hardware often come from a variety of vendors and manufacturers. While manufacturers have become aware of their role in security, enterprise IT teams must be vigilant.

All data must be encrypted in both directions from every endpoint using standard encryption methods. More endpoints mean more entry points for bad actors. Any internet-connected device presents an exploitable attack surface. 

When organizations implement encryption correctly, information is unreadable to unauthorized users. Data travels from the sender to the recipient without compromise. Enterprises must use robust encryption keys and update them frequently to minimize vulnerabilities.

2. Minimize Physical Security Threats to Field Devices

IoT devices come with increased risks, in large part because they vary in form and function. Devices are often in the field. This exposes them to far more physical security threats than servers in a locked building. Organizations need to be cautious when providing access to these devices.

Staff members with physical access to the devices must be identified. Develop a plan to revoke those permissions if needed. Implement security measures on the devices to ensure only authorized individuals can access them. These measures are crucial to prevent the devices from being compromised or stolen.

3. Secure Device Data with Edge Computing

Organizations must also secure the data on IoT devices. The most appropriate method for storing security keys depends on the device’s design and its risk factors. These risk factors are based on the type of data or personal information involved. Saving keys in a device’s memory may leave information vulnerable.

The safest option is to store them within the chip. Beyond that, it’s critical to regularly update keys and passwords. Many organizations recognize the importance of updating keys and passwords. However, they often don’t prioritize this action until a data breach occurs.

Edge computing provides a safe solution for managing IoT data traffic when authentication systems are in place and devices are secure. It creates a processing boundary at the network’s edge for real-time logic and analysis before exchanging data with core systems.

Despite its benefits, edge computing can introduce vulnerabilities stemming from specific risk factors, such as: 

• Unchanged or unchangeable default passwords 
• Unsecured internet resources 
• Physical tampering 
• Lack of IoT cybersecurity awareness among operators 

However, best practices that solve these challenges include: 

• Implementing end-to-end encryption
• Developing long-term plans for edge computing deployment
• Securing devices with strong passwords
• Managing encryption keys securely 
• Using biometric authentication systems

4. Secure End-to-End Communications

Enterprise IoT systems have many connected components. Several different endpoints usually need to be secured. Multiple devices all connect to a centralized network. The entire system of communication includes the: 

• Device 
• Network 
• Cloud 

As enterprises deploy more IoT devices, data must travel across broader, less controlled environments. This puts endpoints at greater risk than in traditional on-premises systems.

There are multiple ways outsiders can gain access. Ensuring secure communication should be a priority across the entire IoT infrastructure. The most effective way to guarantee data security is to choose a single provider for hardware, edge devices and management software. Having one provider reduces potential security risks and creates a secure environment with fewer entry points for cybercriminals.

5. Ensure Devices Remain Accessible after Deployment

The goal of an IoT deployment is to collect and leverage data from distributed devices. Some organizations fail to consider the various ways they will need to access those devices to keep the network running smoothly. 

Firmware and hardware must be updated with the latest security patches and added features to remain optimally secure. Over time, devices may require battery replacements, repairs or other maintenance. Planning how to manage these tasks before deployment minimizes security risks.

Sending personnel to make repairs may be necessary in some situations. Most device maintenance can be handled remotely if the groundwork is in place. Enterprises should look for device management tools that provide: 

• Remote updates
• Preventive maintenance 
• Monitoring capabilities 

These features will yield tremendous savings in both costs and time.

6. Security by Design

Many enterprises are rightly concerned about IoT security. When companies create an IoT project and attempt to add protection to it, the process becomes complicated. Moreover, enterprise leaders too often fail to take the necessary steps to protect the devices. 

The best path to robust IoT security is to design it into your deployment from the start. Learn more about security in IoT device manufacturing.

7. Designing IoT Device Life Cycles for Long-Term Security

Security by design must also account for the entire device life cycle. IoT devices have finite hardware and software resources. Over time, these limits can prevent updates to critical security components such as authentication or encryption algorithms. Companies risk deploying devices that cannot adapt to emerging threats if device lifespans are designed without current security standards in mind. 

Updating such devices later can be expensive. Insufficient resources may make it impossible to implement newer protocols. This leaves organizations with an insecure, business-critical fleet vulnerable to exploitation.

Secure Your IoT Deployment

Security is not a static decision; it should be an ongoing priority. Enterprises must start strong with a secure, sealed network. They also need to keep device firmware and software up to date and stay abreast of emerging cyber threats. Proactively dealing with these risks is the only way to ensure security.

Partner with a trusted IoT solutions provider to simplify the process and gain the expertise needed for success.   

Editor’s note: This blog was originally published on 17 January 2020 and has since been updated.