IOT security will become a key differentiation factor for manufacturers

With the proliferation of connected devices under the Internet of things, network security risks also increase. Therefore, making the equipment safe against the security problems of the Internet of things will become a key differentiation factor for manufacturers.

There is no doubt that the Internet of things has become a reality. What makes IOT attractive is the variety of applications it allows. According to recent blog posts, through allot, the Internet of things can be divided into two main areas: consumer Internet of things, which is characterized by smart home devices, such as refrigerators, door locks, light bulbs, monitoring systems, and Internet of things consumer / lifestyle devices, such as fitness belts, smart watches and UAVs; And the enterprise / business Internet of things, mainly classified by its vertical classification, including equipment such as power, gas and water meters used by utility companies, as well as equipment for networked vehicles, retail, health, shipping and agriculture. IP cameras can also be regarded as Internet of things devices.

However, with the development of the Internet of things, daily life becomes more convenient, and it also brings new risks, especially those related to security.

The security problem of the Internet of things has been growing in the past few years, because it is becoming more and more obvious that Internet of things devices are inherently unsafe, mainly because these devices are often cheap and disposable items. If they were more expensive, they would not become popular so quickly. One reason for keeping costs down is that there is little investment in ensuring its safety.

A high-profile event

The recent high-profile security incidents suffered by Internet of things devices highlight the harm that can be caused. The most notorious is Mirai malware that caused serious damage in 2016.

Mirai is aimed at online consumers' Internet of things devices, such as home routers and Internet connected cameras. On September 20, 2016, Mirai malware was used for the largest distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack in history, targeting the French cloud computing website OVH and the US DNS provider dyn the same year later.

Further risks related to the home and enterprise Internet of things include: data security issues, personal and public physical security risks, privacy issues, and data storage management after the exponential growth of Internet of things devices.

Solution

With the increase of network security threats, IOT OEMs can take some measures to reduce the IOT risk of their products. For example, Internet of things device manufacturers can take security as a primary consideration at all stages of device development. They can also provide life cycle device updates. With the increasing maturity of Internet of things devices, security may become a market differentiation factor. A company that sells Internet cameras that provide lifelong security upgrades will accumulate more sales than a company without competitors.

In addition, other stakeholders should also play a role in preventing cyber attacks. The best way to prevent Internet of things attacks is to let your communication service provider play a key role, not only connecting your Internet of things devices, but also systematically reducing the network risk caused by Internet of things connection.

Finally, preventing Internet of things attacks in the network itself brings great benefits to enterprises and consumers, including:

Centralized solution, i.e. device / endpoint independent;

Activate the Internet of things security of all devices in the large-scale market;

Use Global Threat Intelligence in real time and be able to use different types of databases and technologies;

CSP experts provide the responsibility to protect and take this responsibility away from consumers;

Stop threats before entering your home or device.