Internet of Things

What is the Internet of Things (IoT)?

IoT, or Internet of Things, refers to the practice of protecting devices that are capable of communicating over a network. Examples of such devices are WiFi capable thermostats, lights, smart TVs, alarm systems and many more. As the use of such devices increases, it is important the network administrators are aware of each additional device and take all necessary precautions to secure the device since product designers more often than do not have device security in mind. Since such devices are often unsecured, attackers love to exploit them for easy access to the network they operate on.

Why is IoT Security Important for small business?

IoT devices like cars, baby monitors, toasters, and smartwatches have all been previously exploited by attackers to gain access to the network the devices interacted with. It is important to account for all such vulnerable devices connected to a network as well as put in place security protocols that will not only prevent their exploitation as well as mitigate and minimize the fallout of their exploitation. A common protocol that can be used to mitigate potential side effects is the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Policy. The BYOD Policy accounts for the possibility that an employee's device may be, for example, lost or stolen and then exploited by the antagonist to gain access to sensitive data. It is crucial for business owners to have proper security measures in place to prevent the very probably exploitation of internet capable devices.

Top 10 List of best practices

Change Default Passwords

Most internet of things devices come with default credentials and passwords, but this information is publicly available with minimum effort. Hackers regularly test the default passwords on devices to try to get into networks, which they can do just by getting within the desired range. The best practice to avoid this problem is to never use the default credentials and passwords for your IoT devices. Instead, change the information and keep a record of the new credentials in a secure location.

Segment IoT Devices

Place your IoT devices on a guest WiFi network or even better a completely separate network segment so if they are compromised attackers will no way to access your corporate network and customer data.

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