https://www.iotworldtoday.com/wp-content/themes/ioti_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
    • Back
    • IoT World 2020 News
  • Strategy
  • Special Reports
  • Galleries
  • Business Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Industry Perspectives
    • Featured Vendors
  • Other Content
    • Back
    • IoT World 2020 News
    • Q&As
    • Case Studies
    • Features
    • How-to
    • Opinion
    • Video / Podcasts
  • More
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Strategic Partners
  • IOT World Events
    • Back
    • Internet of Things World: San Jose
    • IoT World 2020 News
Iot World Today
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • News
    • Back
    • IoT World 2020 News
  • Strategy
  • Special Reports
  • Galleries
  • Business Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Industry Perspectives
    • Featured Vendors
  • Other Content
    • Back
    • IoT World 2020 News
    • Q&As
    • Case Studies
    • Features
    • How-to
    • Opinion
    • Video / Podcasts
  • More
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Strategic Partners
  • IOT World Events
    • Back
    • Internet of Things World: San Jose
    • IoT World 2020 News
  • newsletter
  • IIoT
  • Cities
  • Energy
  • Homes/Buildings
  • Transportation/Logistics
  • Connected Health Care
  • Retail
  • AI
  • Architecture
  • Engineering/Development
  • Security
ioti.com

Security


Getty Images

SMB security

IoT Risks for SMB Security and How to Manage Them

IoT poses a unique SMB security risk as smaller-sized organizations often deploy connected devices without the IT resources of larger enterprise companies. 
  • Written by Terry Hearn
  • 27th June 2019

As the use of Internet of Things devices continues to increase, so too does the level of security risk, especially to small business. A report by Juniper estimates that there will be 50 billion IoT devices by 2022. 

There are certainly many benefits for businesses that implement IoT, including improvements in efficiency and logistics, as well as convenience. But with many small businesses operating on tight margins, the speed with which these devices are becoming standard is bringing with it a security challenge for SMB IT teams.

Operating without specific IoT security measures in place puts data at risk, but now everything, from lights, printers to speakers are multiplying the attack surface. The number and type of devices will vary according to the company, but there are a number of universal precautions that SMBs can take to minimize the risks IoT can pose. 

Strong Passwords

Possibly the oldest security mantra is to make sure that strong passwords are used at all times, on all devices. IoT makes this more relevant than ever before. In many cases, device makers pride themselves on the simple setup processes of their products. As convenient as this can be, the result is that many devices are installed with default passwords.

Knowing this, all hackers would need to do is perform a quick search to find gain access. A recent report by Avast found that four out of 10 smart homes had at least one vulnerable device. If this risk is not dealt with, similar numbers of businesses could be vulnerable to an entirely preventable security threat.

Endpoint SMB Security 

The makeup of the modern office space is changing rapidly. Just a few years ago mobile working was a rarity but is now set to account for 43.3% of the worldwide workforce by 2023. Alongside this, the popularity of Internet of Things (IoT) devices is projected to grow in the United Kingdom from 272 million connected devices in 2018 to 625 million in the next five years. What does this mean? More and more endpoints.

The first step is to consider carefully when adding new devices to the network if the benefit of the device is worth the SMB security risk of adding another endpoint. Any device that can connect to your network needs to be correctly set up and secured to avoid it becoming a point of entry for an attack. This includes everything from the personal devices of remote workers to smart speakers.

Next, ensure that antivirus software and firewalls are updated and in place to monitor and deal with any suspicious activity. Next, while many of IoT devices are designed to easily connect to a network, it can be easy to forget to change the default password to something more secure — the equivalent of leaving your front door unlocked.

Beyond standard security, IoT measures should go even further by including tools to identify phishing emails, WiFi scanners and encryption for sensitive files.

Patches

Regular security updates are a common sight with modern technology, and while it might be an annoyance to install when you are in the middle of something, they are a crucial security step. Aside from seasonal refreshes, numerous security patches are likely to be made available during the course of a year. Most will be produced to fix a known security vulnerability, meaning that those who click ‘remind me later’ are putting their data at unnecessary risk.

In addition to laptops, servers and personal devices used for mobile working, the rapid increase in IoT devices poses a challenge for SMB IT teams, which may consist of just one or two people. Many companies may adopt a cycle process to ensure every device is updated at regular intervals. But as patches could arrive at any time, this strategy could see a crucial delay between the patch’s release and its implementation.

The solution is delegation. If staff take responsibility for their own devices, then IoT can be addressed as part of a reduced workload for dedicated IT staff.

Limit Access Permissions

A very simple way to protect data is to limit the number of people who have permission to access it. Hackers might be able to take control of an account using a phishing attack but if that user does not have access, the data will remain secure and the hacker will have to find another route.

The key here is for companies to not give out admin privileges to all members of staff, regardless of seniority, unless access to the data is essential to their work. This applies to freelancers, temp workers and former employees, who should all have their permissions revoked as soon as their work is completed.

Staff Training

In a majority of cases, data breaches are not the result of a targeted attack. More than 80% of data breaches are actually the result of human error. While security solutions are still important for scanning emails and removing suspicious files, effective small business security needs to adopt a multi-layered approach that includes training on cybersecurity, best practices and company policy should a breach occur.

Training must apply to all staff, from directors to freelancers, regardless of their position in the company. If everyone who has access to the company’s network has the same level of basic training, it will help to ensure that passwords are strong, two-factor authentication is applied where possible, updates are installed, and potentially suspicious activity is flagged.

By providing regular training and security updates, staff will become more comfortable with best practices and will be less likely to make a mistake, but they will also be better equipped to react should a breach occur. These processes can also help to keep security as a front-of-mind concern for everyone, rather than something that is only the concern of IT staff.

Backing Up

With huge corporations, governments and travel networks as victims, most headline-grabbing cyberattacks of recent years have been ransomware, a type of attack that goes unnoticed until a message appears demanding payment for stolen files.

Faced with this situation, there is a temptation to simply pay the ransom. Yet even this is a risk as half of those who agreed to pay did not get their data back. Thankfully, one preemptive measure can mitigate this threat.

Keeping secure backups, either held in the cloud or on a separate network, will reduce the threat of losing data to a ransomware attack. Should you suffer an attack, the infected devices will need to be restored, but your data will remain secure.

Conclusion

With large companies suffering data breaches on what seems like a daily basis it can feel like there is nothing that SMBs can do other than hope they are overlooked. But the best way to improve SMB security is to build a culture of commitment to reducing human errors and building a better understanding of security.

As security companies and hackers continue to try and outmaneuver each other, the landscape can change quickly. For this reason, it is vital that SMBs keep up to date on the current security trends and best practices to help stay ahead of the curve. Not only will regularly checking the tech news help to build a broader understanding of the field, but it will help to improve your security policies and be alert to the latest threats.

Tags: Security Features

Related


  • Image shows welding robotics and a digital manufacturing operation.
    IoT Supply Chain Vulnerability Poses Threat to IIoT Security
    The supply chain provides building blocks for IoT but also vulnerabilities. IT pros need to ward against malicious attacks that exploit supply chain security gaps.
  • IoT Security Needs Pen Testing Approach
    IoT pen testing is a no-brainer, say experts. But don’t test everything.
  • Image shows a digital background depicting innovative technologies in security systems,
    Securing IoT Devices With Zero Trust Requires Mindset Shift
    Zero-trust approaches require a shift in mindset to ensure IoT devices have rigorous security policies applied — and the work is never done, say IT pros.
  • An Integrated Approach to IoT Security
    This e-book provides a comprehensive framework to help organizations reduce risk in IoT products and environments.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your IoT World Today account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Content

  • Common Internet of Things Security Pitfalls 
  • Can Privacy-Preserving Machine Learning Overcome Data-Sharing Worries?
  • Developing a Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Strategy
  • Addressing IoT Security Challenges From the Cloud to the Edge 

News

View all

Webex Collaboration Banks on Hybrid Workplace Model at Cisco Live 2021

2nd April 2021

Cisco Enlists Networking Automation, CX Cloud in COVID-19 Response

31st March 2021

White Papers

View all

Telehealth and COVID Infographic

30th March 2021

Medical Supply Chain Management with Smart Devices and Sensors

30th March 2021

Special Reports

View all

Cybersecurity Protection Increasingly Depends on Machine Learning

28th October 2020

Webinars

View all

Real-Time Analysis of Driver Behavior Using Machine Learning

13th May 2021

Weber’s Journey: How a Top Grill Maker Serves Up Connected Cooking

25th February 2021

Galleries

View all

Top IoT Trends to Watch in 2020

26th January 2020

Five of the Most Promising Digital Health Technologies

14th January 2020

Industry Perspectives

View all

IoT Spending Holds Firm — Tempered by Dose of ‘IoT Pragmatism’

1st December 2020

The Great IoT Connectivity Lockdown

11th May 2020

Events

View all

Embedded IoT World 2021

28th April 2021 - 29th April 2021

The Virtual Industrial AI Summit

29th June 2021 - 30th June 2021

IoT World 2021

2nd November 2021 - 4th November 2021

Twitter

IoTWorldToday, IoTWorldSeries

How Smart Environments Will Take Shape Post-COVID-19 dlvr.it/RxfPG2 https://t.co/Y6DMWxZf9S

14th April 2021
IoTWorldToday, IoTWorldSeries

IoT Enterprise Deployments Continue Apace, Despite COVID-19 dlvr.it/RxWwsS https://t.co/BSkxdf17vs

12th April 2021
IoTWorldToday, IoTWorldSeries

🥳Happy #IoTDay! How are you celebrating? We're giving $50 off All Access Passes to join our upcoming virtual event,… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

9th April 2021
IoTWorldToday, IoTWorldSeries

🎉 Announcing #EIOTWORLD sponsor, @InnoPhaseinc — a fabless wireless semiconductor platform company specializing in… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

8th April 2021

Newsletter

Sign up for IoT World Today newsletters: vertical industry coverage on Tuesdays and horizontal tech coverage on Thursdays.

Special Reports

Our Special Reports take an in-depth look at key topics within the IoT space. Download our latest reports.

Business Resources

Find the latest white papers and other resources from selected vendors.

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IoT World Series
  • Channel Futures
  • RISC-V
  • Dark Reading
  • ITPro Today
  • Web Hosting Talk

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Login/Register

FOLLOW IoT World Today ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X