How to Protect Your IoT Product from Hackers   

binary-2170630_1920 (1)
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Hackers can gain control of real-world items. This can result in a major security compromise that can easily endanger human lives. To complicate things, IoT devices equip hackers with a modern defensive end: the actual device. So, how can you keep these cyberpunks out of your IoT products from all vantage levels? Let’s look into some key reasons below.

It helps to consider real-life scenarios that can put real lives at risk. Read an example of these types of scenarios below. Read on to find out more.

What if you were on an airplane while on your vacation. Suddenly, you overhear someone’s voice on the intercom that didn’t sound like the captain that voiced the beginning of your flight. You have noticed that there has been a security breach and a hacker made its way into the airline’s network, which made it easier for dangerous people to forcibly take control, and impose a malfunction.

Think of another situation. Say that the family has a “smart home.” This means that they can turn off their lights, lock their doors, open their garage, and change the temperature of the house by BlueTooth controls. A lot of the time this can be done by a simple app on the phone that is tied to a security or networking company. One day, the temperature goes all the way up to 90 degrees. Once you realize it keeps going back up each time you try to turn it down, you begin to worry.

Next, you try to go outside to get some fresh air.

The front door is locked. You go for the side door and that one is locked too. When you try to open the door to the garage, it looks just before you reach the doorknob. Now, all the lights shut off and the temperature dropped down to 20 degrees. Now that this person is distracted by the commotion of their house being overrun, the front door unlocks and the intruder can easily walk in.

It is hard to fully grasp how much IoT security breaches can put lives at risk, but these two situations are what can happen if security is not at the forefront. Now, read on to find out more to protect from these types of security breaches occurring.

  1. Protect from a physical aspect – Physical tampering can be done from exposed ports, impeding the device’s strength, device thievery, etc. From a product manager’s perspective, it is important to prevent this from happening. In this way, you have to make sure your product has zero exposed avenues and make sure to plan for your product to be installed outside of a secure room. Lastly, input locks to prepare that solely entitled individuals have access to your development.
  2. Cybersecurity strikes –  All of the remaining levels of the IoT stack, from software development to programs, are vulnerable to basic cybersecurity practices. Considering various technical groups commonly generate various pieces of the structure, it’s your job as management to ensure that security is consistent straight across. Considering various technical groups commonly generate various pieces of the structure, it’s your job as management to ensure that security is consistent straight across. Some steps to look at to protect each layer revolves around the device hardware, which represents physical tampering. Next, let’s look into repairing data encryptions and the firewall. Another great thing to look into is private networks and VPN. This enables even better secure access to your network.
  3. IoT Decision Framework – Having protection is a never-ending process. Hackers are frequently looking for new ways to exploit weaknesses and latch onto exposed networks. Security must become an integral part of the product development and management procedure. With an IoT Decision Framework, you’ll be able to easily recognize regions that could be vulnerable to breaches. This framework can identify loose ends and create a strategy to protect from hackers.

The IoT Decision Framework permits a structured technique to unearth any concern you have on the numerous considerations. It is critical to have awareness of user familiarity and data judgments for data protocols. These types of products are more dynamic than other technical products. However, it is incredibly versatile with how much the framework can identify, organize, prevent, and release solutions.

Now that you know about background information surrounding cyber attacks, you can do more of your research into what type of decision framework works best for your organization’s security.