5 strategies to effectively promote IoT security

With the advent of IoT devices, users are confronted with serious IoT security issues that cannot be overlooked. Analysts and experts often discuss this serious problem and people need to take proactive action to address and resolve it.

According to Gartner, the research firm, the IoT market will continue to grow at an unprecedented rate. According to him, there will be 26 billion IoT devices worldwide by 2020. Smart watches, Smart bulbs, IP cameras, industrial automation, autonomous driving and smart home are no longer new concepts. IoT devices have advantages such as simplicity and convenience. For example, smart appliances help users perform simple tasks such as adjusting the temperature or locking the door.

The Internet of things basically includes devices connected to each other through the web. These devices are typically embedded in sensors. Security was not given priority when the first IoT device was released two years ago. In recent years, there have been numerous reports of attacks on IoT devices, and many believe that top vendors who have been immune to any security problems have experienced data breaches.

There are many risks associated with IoT systems that are not well protected. On the part of the stakeholders, it can lead to a huge loss of capital and reputation. Affected organizations and other users may experience third parties hacking their devices when sending or receiving sensitive data. In addition, they may be harassed by spies or by the Internet. Consider the following strategies to improve the security of your IoT devices :

1. Use strong passwords

The first thing that makes consumers vulnerable to security breaches is the use of weak passwords on smart devices. Many people often continue to use the default password on the device. This could lead to an attack on the Mirai botnet, which typically searches the Internet for IoT devices protected by default passwords and usernames. As a result, people need to set up very strong passwords for all IoT devices and change their passwords on a regular basis. Setting a different password for each device can make the internet of things more secure.

2. Understanding the Privacy Policy

For security purposes, manufacturers and consumers can play a role. Enterprises can take security into account in the early stages of designing devices. This is because consumers need to be assured of buying safe products. Enterprises should also take security measures to protect users, devices, servers, and network connections. More importantly, qualified staff must be employed to deal professionally with privacy issues. On the other hand, consumers should know how to use the data collected from their devices, as well as the data they can access. Organizations that provide clear and appropriate privacy policies tend to have advantages over other organizations. If a device or application requires a license that does not appear to be appropriate, please reject it immediately.

3. Implement the latest encryption protocol

Most of the IoT devices manufactured in the last 20 years are still running the supporting software. For this reason, their firmware is difficult to upgrade manually or automatically. In fact, people need to avoid outdated encryption algorithms at all costs and keep two-way communication secure with appropriate cryptographic protocols. Ensure that all firmware on the IoT device is updated to the latest version.

4. Establish a secure Internet connection

There is an urgent need to ensure that networks and communication channels are safe in all aspects. Wearable devices such as smart watches and fitness trackers support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. They transmit data through these channels. As long as people want to use wearable connections, there is no need to connect directly to a smartphone. For security reasons, it is recommended that users turn off Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) functionality on their routers and devices. Taking this approach ensures that unsafe external connections are prevented. IoT devices that require cloud services are at high risk of leaking sensitive information. DDS (data distribution service) is one of the IoT technologies that organizations use because it allows secure data communication between various devices and the cloud. It has higher performance than the advanced Message Queuing Protocol (AMQP) and the Java Messaging Service (JMS).

5. Security best practices with IoT devices

Although the importance of consumer IoT and industrial Internet is different, there are still some basic security requirements. Handheld devices, especially smartphones, will act as the control Center for IoT devices and network connections. When people are taking steps to protect their smartphones, remember to make a network security plan. Devices are at risk if they want to connect to any available network. Social media platforms can show people where they are when using wearables, so use it with caution.

Source: CIO Time Network

5 strategies to effectively promote IoT security