Internet of Things
Security: IoT Risks

The numbers are staggering. IDC projects 41.6 billion internet of things devices by 2025, generating nearly 80 zettabytes of data annually. Cisco predicts 500 billion connected devices by 2030. To grasp that scale, count the IoT devices you personally interact with daily: smartphone, smartwatch, fitness tracker, wireless earbuds, smart TV, voice assistant, doorbell camera, thermostat, garage door opener. That's easily a dozen per household before considering appliances.

Internet of things security challenges scale with device proliferation. Each connected gadget represents a potential network entry point, a data collection node, and an attack surface that security teams must somehow protect. Traditional enterprise security assumed a relatively small number of managed endpoints. The internet of things obliterates that assumption.

Enterprise adoption compounds the problem. Security cameras, connected fleet vehicles, workplace safety sensors, smart meters, environmental monitors, predictive maintenance systems — organizations deploy thousands of internet of things devices without the security infrastructure to protect them. IT departments often don't even know how many IoT devices exist on their networks.

How IoT Systems Actually Work

Understanding internet of things security requires understanding IoT architecture. These systems typically involve three layers: devices that collect data, networks that transmit data, and platforms that process data. Security vulnerabilities can exist at any layer — and attackers target whichever layer presents the weakest defenses.

Device Layer Security Challenges

Internet of things devices range from sophisticated autonomous robots to simple temperature sensors. Most share common security limitations: minimal processing power restricts encryption capabilities, limited memory prevents complex security software, and cost pressures drive manufacturers toward minimal security implementations. Many devices run stripped-down Linux variants with network ports exposed by default.

Device firmware updates present particular challenges for internet of things security. Unlike smartphones that automatically patch themselves, many IoT devices require manual updates that users never perform — or lack update mechanisms entirely. Devices deployed in 2020 may still run software with vulnerabilities discovered and exploited years ago.

Network and Data Transmission

Internet of things devices communicate using various protocols: WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, LoRaWAN, cellular networks, and proprietary wireless technologies. Each protocol has characteristic vulnerabilities. Some lack encryption entirely. Others implement weak encryption that motivated attackers can break. Network-level internet of things security requires understanding which protocols devices use and what protections each provides.

Data typically flows from devices to cloud platforms for processing and storage. This transmission path creates interception opportunities. Man-in-the-middle attacks can capture sensitive data or inject malicious commands. Internet of things security architectures must protect data in transit as thoroughly as data at rest.

Why IoT Devices Create Unique Risks

Traditional computing devices — laptops, servers, smartphones — were designed with security as at least a secondary consideration. Internet of things security faces a different reality. Many IoT devices were designed purely for functionality with security treated as an afterthought, if considered at all. Manufacturers optimized for cost and time-to-market, not protection against sophisticated cyberattacks.

• Default credentials: Many devices ship with factory passwords that users never change — and attackers know
• No patching mechanism: Devices may lack capability to receive security updates after deployment
• Weak encryption: Processing limitations prevent implementation of strong cryptographic protections
• Extended lifecycles: Industrial IoT devices may operate for 10-15 years, far outlasting security support
• Physical accessibility: Devices deployed in public or semi-public locations face tampering risks

Here's what really worries internet of things security professionals: botnets. Attackers compromise thousands of poorly secured IoT devices, linking them into networks capable of launching devastating distributed denial-of-service attacks. The Mirai botnet demonstrated this threat in 2016, taking down major websites using primarily compromised cameras and DVRs. The underlying vulnerability — default passwords — remains widespread.

IoT Security Strategies and Best Practices

Effective internet of things security requires accepting a fundamental constraint: you often cannot secure the devices themselves. Manufacturers control firmware, update mechanisms, and security implementations. Organizations must secure around devices rather than through them. Network segmentation becomes critical — isolating IoT devices on separate network segments that limit lateral movement if devices are compromised.

Asset discovery comes first. You can't protect devices you don't know exist. Internet of things security programs should begin with comprehensive network scanning to identify all connected devices, their communication patterns, and their security postures. Many organizations are genuinely surprised by how many IoT devices operate on their networks without IT awareness.

Behavioral monitoring provides detection capabilities that signature-based security lacks. Internet of things devices typically exhibit predictable communication patterns — a thermostat talks to specific cloud services at regular intervals. Deviations from baseline behavior may indicate compromise, even when specific attack signatures aren't recognized.