The rapid growth of technology has spurred the need for smarter homes and thereby the need for the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT devices help to connect hardware devices over the internet, thus helping by exchanging information and control signals to help users.
The advent of AI has spurred the growth of IoT technology. According to a projection by McKinsey, connected IoT devices have several uses and are projected to rise to 43 bn by the year 2023 – thrice the number in 2018. This is a humongous number of tools that are interconnected and provides several unique ways for further enhancements. However, we must not overlook the risks of any security breaches and underlying data theft that might occur.
How Can You Ensure The Security Of Your IoT Devices
Before installing the IoT infrastructure, you must discuss with your consultant the various steps that will be taken to ensure that the IoT system is robust. While discussing the steps forward, do enquire the consultant whether timely software upgrades will be part of their deliverables. Do keep in mind the duration of the contract and whether the partner will be able to honor them during the entire time frame. We will now have a look at the steps to be taken to ensure the safety of the IoT devices.
Take The Help Of SSL/TLS.
If you are operating IoT devices, you must not be complacent about security. As a proactive step, you must install trusted SSL/ TLS certificates for encryption and authentication. The protocol utilizes asymmetric encryption for communication between devices and will ensure that the identities of the server are pre-verified.
You can opt for a multi-domain Wildcard SSL Certificate that will cover all the subdomains for your server. As the number of connected IoT devices increase, your SSL partner can help you by managing the lifecycle of security certificates.
Use A Robust Password Policy
If you talk to experts, they will always talk about creating strong passwords. You must use strong passwords for all the devices. Ideally, do not have the same passwords for all the tools. It could be a bit cumbersome to remember the passwords of all the instruments but should have a Workeround.
In case you want to know more about the ideal password policy, you may search on Google. There are many blogs on the perfect password policy. Do remember to change the passwords periodically, ideally every three months.
Keep The Software Up To Date
You need to update the software of your smartphone and all IoT devices periodically by checking for firmware updates. As hackers try to stay ahead of the curve by taking advantage of any loopholes, manufacturers are also trying to plug in any gaps in security by bringing in patch upgrades. Hence it is required that you get notified of any updates. It will help strengthen the safety of the entire network of IoT devices.
Disable The UPNP Feature
The UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) allows the router to search for devices and add to the network automatically. However, this feature is not without any underlying risks. Malware can use this feature to infect the system as it can ask a router to forward a port over UPnP.
You will be of the view that your devices do not have any malware. Hackers can easily find the IoT devices behind the network and can access multiple IoT devices at the same time. It is a good practice to turn off this feature on your system.
Try To Minimize The Use Of Cloud Technology
Approximately 127 new devices connect to the internet in a second
— McKinsey
Cloud technology stalwarts like Google have introduced a new software development kit to connect microcontroller class devices directly to the cloud. It also allows us to collect all IoT device data and process them over Google Analytics. While it may seem to be a great proposition, it is not fraught without any underlying risks.
You will need an internet connection to access the cloud services, and any third-party can hack this connection when you are using it. Also, it could sync sensitive data to the network. You must always have an overview of the provider’s IT policies and double-check for data encryption and protection of underlying systems.
Check The Settings Of Your Devices
You should always check the parameters of the devices before installation. Always go through the associated documentation before connecting them to your network. It is best to have an overview of your requirements and disable the features that you do not need.
You must assess the necessity of whether a set of devices needs to be connected onto the network. You must also undertake periodic assessments and find out whether some of the tools need replacement.
Conclusion
The use of AI for IoT devices allows us to use technology and move towards smarter networks. It is also necessary to protect our systems and secure the underlying data. You can start by procuring a multi-domain Wildcard SSL Certificate to encrypt the communication between devices. Also, refrain from connecting the devices to an external network. You may also create a separate network for your visitors so that your sensitive data cannot be accessed. As an additional security measure, install a firewall, intrusion prevention system, and antivirus software.
We have discussed some of the steps you can take to prevent tampering of the data underlying the IoT device network. We look forward to your comments and suggestions.
