Addressing the IoT Security Challenge

An image of IoT, Cyber Security, Addressing the IoT Security Challenge

Chani Agarwal, Pre-Sales Engineer for Rahi Systems, discusses the security challenges facing IoT, and how businesses can safeguard themselves against the possible threat of a cyberattack


The Internet of Things is already transforming entire industries and bringing an array of benefits to organisations of all sizes. However, the devices that comprise the IoT have notoriously weak security, creating a massive attack surface to be exploited by malicious actors. Security has typically been an afterthought, but organisations need to put procedures and controls in place to reduce the risk of a cyberattack.

An IoT device can be anything with a unique ID that is attached to the network, and the number of IoT devices has been growing on a very large scale. One research estimates that by 2025 there will be about 75 billion devices connected to the Internet.

The sheer size of the IoT makes security a big challenge. The traditional IT environment, including computers, networking devices and the like, typically includes hundreds, maybe thousands of devices. Enterprise initiatives can increase quickly in scale to include hundreds of thousands of devices. These devices generate huge volumes of data that is distributed across the environment from the edge to the cloud.

An image of IoT, Cyber Security, Addressing the IoT Security Challenge


How secure are IoT devices?

Internet of Things devices are also much more diverse than traditional IT devices, and there are very few standards in place for managing and securing them. Security controls typically aren’t implemented on the Internet of Things devices themselves because of limited battery life. Also, IoT devices don’t have a lot of computing power, so they can’t provide encryption and other security services.

In light of these challenges, organisations should adopt a layered approach to IoT security. As an initial step, organisations need to safeguard IoT devices from external attack. This requires a firewall with IoT-specific protocols and Layer 7 application signatures. Additionally, network segmentation should be used to prevent the lateral proliferation of threats.

IoT devices should be monitored for anomalous behaviour. Organisations should collect and analyse log files using a security information and event management (SIEM) solution.

Advanced threat prevention (ATP) is also essential. Because IoT devices lack security controls, hackers are able to find vulnerabilities and attack the devices with unknown malware, so-called zero-day attacks. The 2016 distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack on DNS provider Dyn is probably the most famous example. The attack leveraged a huge botnet of IP video cameras, residential routers and other consumer IoT devices that had been infected with the Mirai malware. The attack took down major websites, including Amazon, Netflix, Twitter and the New York Times.


READ MORE: Why Today’s Global Businesses Need a Cloud-Delivered Firewall Solution



There are many other forms of advanced malware that exploit Internet of Things devices to form botnets, and signature-based malware detection is ineffective against these threats. The Juniper Sky Advanced Threat Protection solution combines cloud-based threat detection with the SRX NGFW to identify and block zero-day attacks. It also employs a sandbox where malware is detonated in a contained environment and patented machine learning capabilities that analyze and adapt to the malware.

Many enterprises that implement Internet of Things applications try to move security features toward the network edge. A better approach is to have end-to-end, pervasive security, after all the network is only as strong as its weakest link. If someone can hack into an IoT device (as innocent as your “smart” coffee machine or Smart TV), odds are high that they can hack into the entire network. In addition, the data generated by the IoT is going to be omnipresent, so security will need to be everywhere.

Most important, IoT security should not be an afterthought. If you’re planning an Internet of Things initiative, it’s crucial you look for assistance in developing a security strategy and implementing the right processes and tools.


Rahi Systems delivers a suite of solutions and services that optimises the cost, performance, scalability, manageability and efficiency of today’s integrated environment.

An image of IoT, Cyber Security, Addressing the IoT Security Challenge

Chani Agarwal

Chani Agarwal is a network presales engineer for Rahi Systems. Chani has also worked as a business process analyst focused on audit and risk management for IT.

Addressing Regulatory Compliance in Government-Owned, Single-Use Devices

Nadav Avni • 26th March 2024

Corporate-owned single-use (COSU) devices, also known as dedicated devices, make work easier for businesses and many government agencies. They’re powerful smart devices that fulfil a single purpose. Think smart tablets used for inventory tracking, information kiosks, ATMs, or digital displays. But, in a government setting, these devices fall under strict regulatory compliance standards.

Advantages of Cloud-based CAD Solutions for Modern Designers

Marius Marcus • 22nd March 2024

Say goodbye to the days of clunky desktop software chaining us to specific desks. Instead, we’re stepping into a new era fueled by cloud CAD solutions. These game-changing tools not only offer designers unmatched flexibility but also foster collaboration and efficiency like never before!

What are Multi-core Safety-Critical Avionics?

Wind River • 13th March 2024

A multi-core processor is a type of central processing unit that integrates multiple individual processing units onto a single chip. It supports different cores executing their tasks simultaneously, for quick and enhanced overall performance. Multi-core processors nowadays support safety-critical avionics. Find out more about what multi-core processors are, what multi-core safety-critical avionics are, and how...

Why Transition from 4G to 5G+ vRAN/O-RAN?

Emily Goldshteyn • 13th March 2024

The journey from legacy to 5G doesn’t have to be off-putting. It is a process that, if approached strategically, can make your company a pioneer in the digital age. Virtual and Open RAN, which come with broader choices of technology options and greater flexibility, are giving service providers greater opportunity as they transition their networks....