How to Secure IoT Devices

There are different ways to secure IoT devices, depending upon the complexity and size of the IoT network, but in this guide  we will see some of the main security measures that are essential to protect IoT devices regardless of their size and complexity.

1. Create a Strong Password

The first and most important thing that you can do in how to secure IoT devices is to create a strong password to secure your IoT devices from hackers. Hackers can take advantage of easily guessed passwords and can get access to your IoT devices. So, for that, you need to create a strong password to protect your IoT network.

To secure your IoT devices, you must keep the following points in mind for creating a strong password:

• Create a password with at least 16 characters.    
• Use both upper and lower case letters.
• Use symbols or special characters.
• Do not use commonly used phrases or passwords that can easily be guessed, like “12345” or “abcde”, etc.
• Do not use the same password for multiple IoT devices.​

Use a password manager to create strong passwords; they will also store them safely, so you  don’t have to memorize long passwords. Also do update your password to maintain the security of your IoT devices.

2. Use Encryption

Encryption is another important measure that you can take to secure your IoT devices. Even if the hackers get access to your IoT devices, they will not be able to read the data if it is encrypted.

HTTPS, TLS, and SSL are some of the commonly used  encryption protocols to secure the communication between IoT devices and the cloud. Use X.509  certificate or single VPN /IPSec to secure any gap between application layer and mobile network.

 Along with this, also encrypt your backups and save them in a secure location. You can also use symmetric and asymmetric encryption to protect your data.

3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

2FA is one of the best and most used measures in how to secure IoT devices. It adds an extra layer of security to your IoT network by making it mandatory to access the account with a second form of authentication, along with a password. If you have enabled 2FA , in case hackers crack your password, they will still not be able to access your IoT network because they need to complete the second authentication to access the account.  

4. Restrict The Network Access

You should restrict access to your network by using segmentation or firewalls. Firewalls enhance the security of your IoT network by monitoring and blocking the traffic that is outside of your VPN. So you should enable firewall protection on your network. Also do monitor the firewall logs to check any suspicious attempt.

5. IoT Gateways

IoT gateways are very beneficial for securing vast IoT networks where many IoT devices are connected, e.g, enterprises. They control the flow of information between the connected devices , prevent malicious software, unauthorized access, and compromising sensitive data by enforcing strict internet access policies.

To secure the web-based traffic and prevent cyber attacks, Secure Web Gateways (SWG) have features like application control, deep inspection of HTTPS and SSL traffic, URL filtering, and remote browser isolation. To prevent data leaks, devices can be secured through threat monitoring solutions. The use of vpn encrypts the browsing data and protects it from hackers.

6. IoT Endpoint Protection

End point protection safeguards the large networks against vulnerable attacks. It secures the devices on the network and allows the security teams to gain complete access to the network so that they can view which devices are connected to the network. You can use endpoint security tools to protect your network endpoints and provide better security on the network.

7. Secure Cloud API

Cloud APIs play an important role in communication and integration within the IoT systems. So it is important to secure the Cloud APIs as hacked API may lead to data breach.  Authentication, encryption, token, and API gateways are some of the robust security measures to secure the APIs. Securing the Cloud API maintains data integrity and ensures that data is securely transferred by adding an additional layer of security to the network.

8. Disable Unused Features

Deactivate the unnecessary features to minimize the chances of attacks on your IoT devices. Most of the IoT devices are built with functions like location tracking, bluetooth, voice assistant, and remote access,and they remain active by default, so if you do need them, turn off such features to prevent potential attacks. Always review your device settings to ensure that only necessary features are active.

9. Limit Third-Party Access

Your IoT devices may require some third-party services and integration to perform some functions, and for that, you may need to give some permissions to them. So it is important to examine third-party access. Before granting them access to your IoT network, you should do a complete security check for any vulnerabilities. Do check their terms of service and privacy policy, as they may change over time. You need to keep yourself informed of any changes in the third-party services and integration to protect your IoT devices.

10. Regularly Monitor & Update Your IoT Devices

Monitoring IoT devices regularly is also an important step in how to secure IoT devices to find out any suspicious attempts or activity. For that, you should set the alerts to detect and respond to any security issue promptly. Monitoring helps to track device activity and detect any malicious activity before it could affect your whole network.

It is important to update your iot devices by updating them when any software update is available. IoT devices use software to perform their tasks, the software manufacturer may update it for any vulnerabilities or add any new features, so in that case, you have to update it. Turn on the automatic update so if there is any update, software will be updated automatically. In case you don’t get the option to turn on  automatically. You should regularly monitor for any updates by visiting the manufacturer’s website or by checking your email.