Manufacture IoT Devices: 7 Top Security Threats to Resolve

IoT (Internet of Things) represents one of the key components of Industry 4.0 so this blog focuses on manufacture IoT devices and top security threats or gaps.

Most of the time, manufacture environments with IoT devices will be within the walls of a facility.  Just because IoT devices are within a facility does not mean you can set and forget them.

In the last 10 years, IoT changed the technology landscape as we know it. Manufactures leverage IoT for the competitive advantage to make better business decisions derived from real-time data.  Experts estimate the total number of installed IoT-connected devices worldwide to amount to 30.9 billion units by 2025.¹

However, as we know, the value of technology comes with risk.  As your manufacture organization deploys IoT devices, develop a plan on the best ways to mitigate your risk.  IT professionals consider about 60% of IoT devices to be vulnerable to medium- or high-severity attacks.²

Manufacture IoT Devices: 7 Top Security Gaps

IoT devices consist of four components – the physical hardware, connectivity, software, and interface.  Cybercriminals exploit the weaknesses associated to these four components.  The following 7 security gaps need to be mitigated in order to protect your manufacture business:

Protect Sensitive Data

Sensors on IoT devices collect large amounts of sensitive data without your knowledge or explicit consent.  Be aware of the potential data collected and where the data is stored.  Multiple attacks like Zero-Day exploits, wardriving, or malware exploits increase the risk of sensitive data.

Design an environment with Operational Technology (OT) systems that contain chokepoints, such as firewalls or router ACLs, which will aid in network remediation tactics to prevent the spread of malware.  Most IoT devices even lack the basic encryption systems to secure data in transit and at rest.  In fact, over 95% of all IoT devices traffic are unencrypted.³

Another critical remediation method that gets over looked, make sure your devices are updated consistently.  Unpatched manufacture IoT devices create an indefinitely exposed environment.

Manufacture Workplace

The rapid surge in the number of IoT devices and applications within the modern-day workspace provides a multifaceted security challenge for manufacture businesses.  On one hand more automation provides greater margins and profits.  However, automation along with manufacture IoT devices brings a higher risk.  Unless the proper mitigation plans are put in place.

Absence of IoT Standards

Currently, no regulatory requirements or standards for the manufacturing of IoT devices exist, either globally or industry-specific, with respect to security and data protection controls. This means businesses need to create their own mitigation plans with little to no guidance with IoT-related risks.

Be careful and aware of what a vendor updates on your IoT device.  For example, Amazon made a change to their Echo devices to share your internet with the outside world.

Vulnerable Default Passwords

We find this to be quite common.  IoT devices utilize factory preset username and password accounts that are not complex.  Cybercriminals find this as an open invitation to exploit the environment.  Some devices come with accounts and passwords embedded.

Single Security Policy  Challenges

IoT ecosystems are complex due to the diverse types of data collected by the devices and the varied computing powers of each device. This complexity makes it impossible to implement a “one size fits all” security policy or solution to tackle the digital security risks spread across the “IoT journey.”

Inability to Train Every User on IoT Security

Regular security awareness training has proven to be effective in significantly reducing the likelihood and impact of cyberattacks. However, businesses are unable to leverage this tool to educate users on IoT functionality and its related risks due to the lack of broad universal knowledge and awareness about IoT at the user level.

Security Controls

A cybercriminal can exploit an unsecure IoT device without even breaking a sweat. About 72% of organizations experienced an increase in endpoint and IoT security incidents last year and 56% of organizations expect a compromise via an endpoint or IoT-originated attack within the next 12 months.⁴

The bottom line spend the time to implement security controls around your manufacture IoT devices to minimize and reduce your risk.

Strategies and Best Practices for Mitigating IoT Risks

The good news security strategies do exist to mitigate the manufacture IoT devices risk.  You can reap the value in implementing these devices into your business.  Many large manufacture companies execute these solutions today like Tesla, Space X, and others.

A risk assessment associated with IoT devices along with automated patch management, security policy management for both internal and third-party systems, and more.  A risk management plan continues to review and assess your environment to reduce your risk over the long term.

We provided a great blog post on leveraging Microsoft 365 with security actions to take now.  Make sure you check that out to set the correct baseline within your business.

Sign-up for our eBook to learn more about IoT-related security risks and ways to mitigate them.  We provide the latest technology and innovative thoughts so you can manufacture the devices with security and profitability.  Contact us today to learn more.

 

Sources:

 1: Statista

2 & 3: 2020 Unit 42 IoT Threat Report

4: 2020 Endpoint and IoT Zero Trust Security Report

  

 

Article curated and used by permission.