Think your Internet of Things (IoT) device is secure? Think again. There’s been a longstanding problem with IoT security, as shown in a Kaspersky report stating that 1.51 billion breaches occurred in the first half of 2021 alone.
Now, there might be the start of a solution.
The FCC has unveiled the new “US Cyber Trust Mark,” a labeling program designed to make security practices on IoT devices more transparent to consumers.
This new Cyber Trust Mark could be placed on all home and office-based smart devices in the near future. The program will allow consumers to quickly determine security levels by glancing at the information. At the moment, some of the biggest names are on board - Google, LG, and Logitech, to name a few. Major retailers also support the standard, with Amazon and Best Buy leading the way.
What exactly will be a part of this program is still up in the air. A National Institute of Standards and Technology has issued a Profile of the IoT Core Baseline for Consumer IoT Products, which may be the starting point for moving this project forward. Careful consideration will also have to be made for devices linked directly to healthcare, assuring they meet HIPAA guidelines, too.
While these guidelines will be more sophisticated in the future, there are things you can do right now to remain secure.
IoT Analytics
You can’t secure what you aren’t aware of. Luckily, every piece of technology is easily followed and tracked with analytics. IoT analytics helps you mitigate potential cyber threats in advance and track any and all changes as they occur. It gives you the opportunity to take a closer look at activity and make decisions accordingly.
IoT Updates
Security experts constantly preach patching and updates with any device, especially IoT devices. Hackers primarily target remote devices with network connections because they know they often have weaker security. Software updates help IoT devices update new features, provide more complex security features, and identify and eliminate security threats or bugs.
IoT Cloud Platforms
Cloud infrastructure is a part of every organization and business. Cloud storage makes saving, accessing, and storing large amounts of data easy. It’s perfect for IoT device access and security. This also means cloud storage protection should be a primary concern. Pay attention to whatever cloud platform you use:
- Do they use multi-factor authentication?
- Can you regularly monitor and manage permissions?
- Can you require all users to have unique and secure credentials, changing passwords regularly?
- Can accounts be blocked after repeated failed attempts?
Asking questions is the biggest way to stay ahead of security problems and ensure your data remains as safe as possible.
Need help? It’s good to partner with a security expert who can help you define how security works with your current technology. It’s the best way to prepare for the future.
For IT Strategy, Cloud Conversion, or Help Desk Services reach out to us at Silver Linings Technology 360-450-4759.
