A web of interconnected devices, or IoT, collects and disseminates data to facilitate the advancement of new products and services. IoT devices may be hacked, controlled, or compromised by hostile parties, which makes them a serious security concern.
The following actions can help you evaluate and strengthen your Internet of Things security stance:
1. Determine and chart your IoT resources
Mapping and identifying your IoT assets—including devices, sensors, gateways, cloud platforms, and apps—is the first step. It is crucial to understand your devices, their location, usage, types, and data output. To assist you with this activity, you may utilize solutions such as asset management software, network scanners, and IoT discovery platforms. For every asset, you should record the firmware versions, protocols, credentials, and device configurations.
2. Conduct a risk analysis
To find and rank the possible risks and vulnerabilities affecting your IoT assets, the next step is to carry out a risk assessment. Frameworks such as OCTAVE, ISO 27005, and NIST SP 800-30 can help you with this approach. You should take into account each risk’s effect, probability, and severity in addition to the controls and mitigation techniques currently in place. It is advisable to classify the risks based on their origin, including physical, network, software, or human factors.
3. Carry out security assessments
To confirm and authenticate the security of your IoT assets, carry out security testing in the third stage. For example, you can use Nmap, Metasploit, or Shodan for penetration testing; Nessus, OpenVAS, or IoT Inspector for vulnerability scanning; SonarQube, Veracode, or Checkmarx for code analysis; and CIS Benchmarks, OWASP IoT Top 10, or IoT Security Foundation Compliance Framework for compliance testing. You can find vulnerabilities in your IoT system that can allow unwanted access or control with the aid of this testing.
4. Put security measures in place
Putting security measures in place to mitigate risks and vulnerabilities found in your IoT system is the fourth phase. Adhere to the defence-in-depth strategy by implementing several security control layers. Implement robust authentication methods, encryption for data protection, authorization mechanisms, and patch management software for secure platforms and devices.
5. Observe and evaluate your IoT security
To identify and address any potential security events, abnormalities, or breaches in your IoT system, the fifth step is to audit and monitor your IoT security. If you want to gather, examine, and get alerts on security incidents and operations on your IoT devices and networks, you should utilise technologies like log management, SIEM, or IDS/IPS. The performance and compliance of your IoT security should also be monitored and measured using technologies like dashboards, reports, and audit trails. Regularly evaluating and updating your IoT security policies, processes, and controls is crucial to ensuring they are efficient, align with company goals, and minimize risk.
When and how much testing is done?
IoT hardware is tested in different ways and at different times. Experts stated that while OEMs often handle the majority of the device testing, thorough testing might cause delays in delivery and increase the final product’s cost. Therefore, compared to gear made for usage in high-risk situations like hospitals, critical infrastructure, and military situations, IoT hardware intended for low-risk environments typically passes less stringent testing.
Conclusion
Testing IoT devices is a complex procedure that calls for personnel with the necessary skill set. We must make sure that the program and devices’ usability, security, performance, connection, and compatibility are all covered by our test.
