By Enrico Milanese

Keep Your IoT Devices Secure with the Right Hardware

By 2030, Statista predicts that as many as 29 billion devices will be connected through the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT is a technology ecosystem that enables everything from smart fitness wearables to smart city lighting and shipping.

The benefits of a connected world are improving industries, including:

• Health care
• Smart Cities and Transportation
• Manufacturing
• Agriculture
• Smart energy and utilities

Interconnected IoT devices and solutions are pervasive, with myriad interactions that generate terabytes of real-time data. Still, enormous opportunity comes with risks.

From an IoT standpoint, the security of such IoT solutions could affect our daily lives and industries. Each connection point is a potential target for cybercriminals, which could:

• Unlock store doors from a cellphone
• Ruin perishables by taking control of the thermostat
• Remotely control smart devices in our houses (toys, pet feeders, smart TVs, etc.)
• Hijack hotel smart locks
• Tapping into a car’s connected systems to monitor government officials’ location and activities
• Compromise medical devices with life-threatening consequences for patient care
• Gain access remotely to vehicle assistance solutions

These challenges are becoming a reality in the age of a fully connected landscape.

Why You Need Secure Modules: 3 Major Threats to Any IoT Device

Any internet-connected device can become a door for attackers to enter your enterprise network. Adopting IoT solutions without a holistic approach will increase the attack surface, as the Cisco AppDynamics report discussed. “Shadow IoT” devices (i.e., unauthorized or unmanaged devices in an enterprise network) can be the origin of a data breach. This IoT security challenge has been highlighted in multiple past cases, including:

• A connected fish tank thermometer in a casino
• A major retailer’s HVAC system

Here are three major risks to connected ecosystems and how to avoid security threats in your IoT network’s deployment strategy.

1. More Endpoints Mean More Risks

All networked endpoint devices in buildings, vehicles or appliances and the communication channels they broadcast across are susceptible to attacks. Furthermore, mobile device connections are another touchpoint for security breaches. Upgrading gateways and IoT devices with secure IoT chipsets can quash attacks before they begin.

2. A Lack of Standards Puts Your Business at Risk

These attacks are common because IoT technology is growing to meet the needs of identity and access management (IAM) systems. These systems integrate people, devices, apps and services into their ecosystems. The Identity of Things (IDoT) works to assign credentials and identifiers to IoT users, such as:

• Warehouse managers
• First responders
• Doctors
• Home users
• City maintenance crew members

Our secure modules adapt to IoT regulations set forth by the FCC, HIPAA and other regulatory bodies. Connecting an IoT architecture with IAM and IDoT codifications will normalize security control. Many IoT modules are designed with these safeguards and will easily integrate security into connected IoT devices.

3. Antiquated Object and System Designs Leave Devices Open to Cyberattacks

New network capabilities are moving into 4G LTE and 5G. Therefore, updating the existing network or deploying updated devices and connecting with backward-compatible modules is critical. Networks that don’t upgrade their hardware and connectivity capabilities in the next five years are at greater risk for continued harassment. Our IoT modules address your current needs while positioning your business for a secure future.

Choosing a Secure Module for Your IoT Device

When choosing an IoT module, you must focus on the risks associated with modules and providers, including:

• Reliability
• Coverage
• Scalability
• Sustainability for larger projects that may need future-proofing and upgrades

Many overseas products contain known IoT security issues and spyware risks. Your module provider should:

• Have an established reputation for designing new products across multiple markets
• Offer modules that are compatible across multiple industries and legacy networks
• Demonstrate a track record of successful global integration
• Offer IoT service and support as part of their platform

To ensure a secure loop between modules and the cloud, an IoT platform must feature:

• Secure device management
• Zero-touch provisioning
• Encryption (data at rest)
• Secure networking (data in transit)
• Session management
• Authorization
• Authentication
• Auditing
• Validation

Steps to Secure and Harden Systems

Along with secure modules that are industry reliant, every IoT deployment needs a well-designed security threat model. This module will help you understand the specific risks to your IoT ecosystem, including all potential connections and points of interaction.

Patrick Gray with ZDNet outlines secure measures for IoT deployment, including:

• Make security a design feature
• Role-play as a hacker
• Don’t overexert your IoT sensors
• Check all the components
• Always update
• Use the right hardware
• Perform IoT life cycle protocols

The right module and IoT team can help safeguard investments as more businesses connect to money-saving IoT solutions.

Industry-Leading Secure Modules and IoT Solutions

Our modules and solutions simplify deployment strategies and avoid many of the pitfalls associated with cyberattacks. Moreover, they future-proof devices and provide secure data protection against various threats, such as:

• Data interception: We offer secure communication channels with best-in-class cryptography protocols
• Unauthorized access: We leverage trusted device identity on the device and minimize the attack surface
• Weak device attestation: Our cloud platform protects against this with zero-touch onboarding
• Malware and ransomware: Our secure-by-design paradigms and technical controls protect against common malware and botnet attack scenarios
• Radio frequency jamming: Our IoT timing and positioning modules can detect and reject such interference signals
• Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks: Our secure IoT connectivity protects against this threat
• IoT abuse scenarios and fraud: Our IoT connectivity and IoT cloud platform can identify potential fraud attempts via network-based security rules and alerts (e.g., SIM fraud)

Let Telit Cinterion, an industry leader in IoT solutions for over 23 years, help you manage your entire IoT deployment from start to finish. Our best-in-class IoT modules and partner chipsets are changing the world one sensor at a time. They provide safeguards around system administration and compatibility with legacy systems.

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