Best Practices for Protecting Data on Connected Devices in Hitech
Key Takeaways:
- IoT networks are expanding all the time - but are vulnerable to cyberthreats
- Limited compute power, legacy firmware and a lack of visibility can all be exploited
- A proactive, multi-layered approach can extend strong security network-wide
- Expert implementation can tailor security solutions to specific organizational needs
If your organization works with advanced technology, then you’ll almost certainly have expanded your use of connected devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) in recent years. At present, there are believed to be nearly 20 billion IoT devices in existence around the world - and this total is forecast to double by 2034.
But as IoT networks expand, so does the potential attack surface and level of security risk. One in three data breaches now involves an IoT device - so keeping IoT devices and data safe should be a top priority, now and in the future.
In this blog, we’ll explore connected device security and the world of IoT data protection, and highlight some data security best practices to inform your future strategy.
Connected Device Security: What’s The Current State of Play?
Cybercriminals view IoT and connected devices as prime targets for an attack, because many don’t have the same levels of security built into them as other devices like laptops and data centers.
This means attackers can use IoT devices as an easier way into wider networks, from where they can cause extensive damage. In 2016, this type of attack was used by one group of hackers to compromise the VoIP networks of nearly 1200 organizations around the world. The same tactic can also be used for Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.
The growth of artificial intelligence also has a role to play here, and is a double-edged sword. While AI can be used to make security smarter (through the likes of advanced threat intelligence), it can also be used by cybercriminals to increase the speed, scale and sophistication of their attacks.
What’s Holding Connected Device Security Back?
While the importance of improving IoT data protection and security is paramount, many organizations find it difficult to achieve that in practice. This is down to four key factors:
Data Security Best Practices for IoT Data Protection
At Ciklum, our years of experience helping organizations ramp up their connected device security means that we’ve established the best ways in which to approach the issue. We recommend these six best practices:
In Summary: The Future of Connected Device Security
IoT data protection will only increase in importance in the months and years ahead, as networks get bigger and attacks become more frequent and well-organized. For this reason, adopting new technologies will be crucial to stay ahead of the threat, including:
 |
AI-driven security that can automatically detect anomalous behavior and respond in real-time, wherever the threat may come from across an IoT network |
 |
Zero-trust architectures that demand continuous authentication and authorization from every device and user, wherever they are and whatever their previous access history might be |
 |
Blockchain solutions that provide reliable audit trails, and that enable decentralized identity management for connected devices |
 |
5G integration to make device connectivity faster and more reliable, and allowing for more sophisticated security features such as network slicing and improved encryption |
Onboarding these technologies - and adopting key data security best practices - requires a proactive, multi-layered approach, guided by industry-specific experience and expertise. At Ciklum, we have had years of success transforming the IoT security of businesses just like yours - get in touch with our team today to find out how we can do the same for you.
You may also like
Subscribe to receive our exclusive newsletter with the latest news and trends
Subscribe to receive our exclusive newsletter with the latest news and trends
Want to reach out directly to us?
hello@ciklum.com
© Ciklum 2002-2023. All rights reserved