Like any other internet-connected device, IoT devices may be targeted and hacked for evil reasons. As the industrial Internet of things (IIoT) becomes a more popular target for malicious actors, attacks against IIoT devices are anticipated to increase. This is why SASE should be at the forefront of IoT security talks, and IoT device protection should be a top concern for all businesses. The first time an IoT hack was used in a narrative device was in the 1969 British film The Italian Job. In the film, crooks use Turin’s traffic control system to cause a large traffic jam, allowing them to steal gold bullion.
This Kaspersky paper deftly analyses these (and other) brilliant hackers. The startling conclusion is that “cinematic clichés of brilliant hackers undermine real-world company security.” People are so certain that bad actors can do everything they want that they don’t worry about maximal protection and allow unneeded gaps. The November 2020 research from ABI Research illustrates how many devices might be at risk.
By 2020, there will be 6.6 billion connected and active Internet of Things devices worldwide. Only 840 million of these devices will connect to cellular networks, accounting for only 8% of the total. At the end of 2014, there were 180 million active cellular IoT devices globally. This figure has more than quadrupled in the last six years. Over the next six years, we will witness a near-7X growth in cellular IoT device activity, increasing worldwide to 5.7 billion. Smart devices are becoming smarter and more diverse.
These devices are growing smarter, but they could be more secure. A 2020 Palo Alto Networks poll states that 98% of all IoT traffic is unencrypted. As a result, IIoT devices are appealing attack vectors. They provide access to the system from any point or portion. For example, for every IoT device connected to the network through cellular, there are four primary attack points: the device itself, the wireless module and data flow from the device to an app, and the app infrastructure.
Strong IoT Security Is Required
These security vulnerabilities may damage businesses that rely on data from mobile network-connected devices. Although cutting-edge technologies such as communications platform-as-a-service (CPaaS) and secure access service edge (SASE) can assist manufacturers in protecting their connected devices, security professionals must conduct regular audits to ensure they are safeguarding against evolving cybersecurity threats.
1 – Understand how IoT devices and apps are vulnerable to hacking.
2 – Learn from the errors of others in IoT security;
3 – Use cutting-edge technology and tactics to protect their apps and devices.
Because the network to which they are connected is secure, cellular IoT devices can be hacked. Smart businesses will avoid communicating with IoT devices via the public Internet, but private networks might be subject to low-security standards. Even if your network traffic is encrypted, these five methods may be used to hack IoT devices.
These Five Ways Can Be Used To Compromise IoT Devices
All of these can be used to obtain access to, misuse, or abuse the system and access or edit sensitive data.
Eavesdropping And Traffic Sniffing
Data transfers are exposed to hackers attempting to steal, read, edit, or modify your data if your encryption settings are insecure. Because routine transfers between devices are not encrypted, IoT networks pose a serious security risk. Although encryption isn’t required for devices that don’t contain sensitive data, such as thermostats, an unsecured device can give hackers access to your whole network.
DNS Poisoning
Another risk is that public domain name systems will be compromised (DNS). DNS poisoning is a malicious actor attack that attempts to divert and reroute device connections from authentic app servers to falsified ones.
Distributed denial-of-service
A distributed DDoS attack (or distributed denial-of-service) is a method of overloading a server with duplicate requests. This overburdens its resources and causes it to go offline. DDoS attacks are often launched via a botnet comprising many previously hacked servers and PCs.
Unprotected SIM (unprotected SIM)
Meters and sensors remotely accessible via cellular IoT may be found in public devices. For example, a bad actor might steal, break, and steal their SIM card to access company data.
Redefining The Term “Home Base”
Once in control of an IoT device, the malware may reprogramme it to “call home” to the hacker’s headquarters. This enables it to convey sensitive data to hostile actors without the owner’s knowledge.
Humans In A Loop
This is a rather clear attack surface, but it bears highlighting. Hackers understand how to exploit the advantage of the weakest link in security chains: people. Even experienced security specialists may choose bulletproof to be handy. They may want to avoid bothering with difficult passwords or frequent password changes. Therefore, it is critical to conduct ‘password hygiene.’ Human operators must employ hard-to-crack passwords or multi-factor authentication that is tough to breach.
Previous Security Breaches Teach Vital Lessons
Even though hackers are always innovating and discovering new flaws, security professionals may still profit from learning vital lessons from previous security incidents. The lessons may also be applied to their network security policies and processes. It is critical to comprehend the intentions of hostile actors that attempt to breach your network. For example, the Colonial Pipeline hack was intended to extract ransom money.
Other attacks, such as the 2016 Mirai botnet attack, were aimed at wreaking havoc. However, in 2016, a type of malware spread throughout the Internet. The botnet eventually swallowed over 145,000 IP cameras and launched DDoS attacks against Minecraft servers and other services like Netflix and Twitter. So what kind of harm may this attack cause to your vital assets?
Network Topologies And Security Protocols That Are Insufficient
Surprisingly, many IoT network connectivity solutions send traffic across the company’s LAN and then to the public Internet (WAN) to reach the device’s location. This is especially true for long-distance IoT networks (often global or continental). To secure communications, traditional networks employ a complicated system of endpoint clients. These endpoint clients must connect to a VPN or employ SSL/TLS encryption between IoT endpoints.
Because of the rising number of devices connected to IoT, this topography is different from the duty of securing communications. Another consideration is the use of SaaS apps. They enable the secure and efficient transport of massive volumes of device traffic into the cloud. Cellular-enabled IoT apps necessitate a fresh approach to network design and security technology.
CPaaS Enables You To Integrate Communications Into Your Cloud
A new paradigm has emerged: communications platform as a cloud service (CPaaS) service. This is a departure from the present strategy. Companies require a dedicated cloud to manage and handle hundreds upon thousands of connected IoT devices. In this aspect, CPaaS provides distinct advantages.
Gartner, an IT research organization, defines the CPaaS as “a cloud-based multilayered middleware over which (companies may develop, run, and distribute communications software.” A CPaaS provides developers access to app programming interfaces (APIs), allowing them to integrate various communication channels into apps.
The original model was intended for one-on-one communication, such as voice or video chatting. CPaaS, on the other hand, evolved to meet the technological requirements of IoT apps. Furthermore, as CPaaS offers the stack architecture for IoT apps, it was obvious that a stronger security strategy was required.
SASE Improves The Security Of IoT Devices
The acronym SASE, which stands for Secure Access Service Edge, was introduced in Gartner’s 2019 Networking Hype Cycle & Market Trends study. It sounds close to the English word “sassy.” This is a new cloud architecture in which security and networking services are merged and delivered through the cloud.
Global cloud-native architecture and identity-driven services characterize SASE. It also encompasses central policy control, security enforcement, and central policy control. SASE enables businesses to integrate their security and network tools into a single management console. As a result, they better understand all their communications and traffic. SASE is the ideal approach for managing IoT devices since it was designed to meet the demands of a remote workforce with little IT infrastructure.
SASE integrates several virtualized security and networking apps into a single cloud service offering. A central policy control system optimizes data routing and safeguards communications traffic between the many apps enabling secure access. This is true regardless of where the device, network, or IoT apps are located.
SASE Has Been Optimised For IIoT Apps
The SASE paradigm differs from other networking architectures in numerous respects. First, it positions security checks closer to the data source. Following that, policies like access protocols are maintained at scattered points of presence (PoP). These PoPs might be a company’s data centers or cloud areas if they are close to the device. Access is provided when the device’s identification is verified. Specific features and device locations can be used to identify devices. Policies can also be programmed and customized for specific apps.
SASE is a hybrid cloud-based and central system that enables policy administration, local enforcement of identity-driven service services, and policy management. This design combines the best of both worlds. By combining all network security services under one provider, the cloud reduces cost and complexity. In addition, users may now observe all communications between monitored devices. In key aspects, SASE differs from typical network security models:
SASE Is Not The Same As Traditional Network Security Models
Remote access to on-premises resources – You can connect IoT devices to a SASE to access cloud services or on-premises resources. The policies are defined and implemented via the SASE API.
Access to cloud resources – In a traditional network context, cellular access by IoT devices is regarded the same as any other online asset. Traditional firewalls and proxy services are included. SASE enables cloud-aware, optimized network access to IoT devices.
Networks and Internet access – It is challenging to connect to a cellular network using a traditional business software-defined wide-area network (SDWAN). SASE services integrate cellular access with traffic optimization features to create a cloud service. This significantly increases device communication.
Backend app security – This consists of firewalls or web app firewalls (WAF) and backend services in the traditional approach. This complicates integration. SASE offers access control and identity-based access control, allowing users to view the whole network.
Network access control – To govern network activity, IoT devices not connected to the Internet depend on local configuration settings and software components. Instead, SASE services are employed, incorporating various network security and access control (including firewalls as a Service) into a single fabric.
Modern SASE systems can offer a wide range of network and security capabilities. These may vary depending on the seller.
These concerns may apply to some manufacturers.
Dynamic Data Routing using SD-WAN – SASE integrates network access and traffic optimization into a global infrastructure that fully uses multi-regional PoPs.
Access control and security policy enforcement, as a cloud-based service, eliminate the requirement for users to route communications traffic via their network. In addition, sending data to a SASE PoP near the device considerably decreases an IoT app’s latency.
Firewall as a Service – A cloud-based FaaS may be used to filter out dangerous and undesirable internet traffic and secure services delivered at the edge.
Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) – A CASB prevents eavesdropping and traffic sniffing on data flows to different cloud environments. It also protects them from data theft by properly encrypting them.
DNS Security – Users may configure trustworthy DNS services with a SASE solution. This aids in ensuring that their DNS is secure and available.
Threat Detection – Lastly, SASE services provide users with complete network visibility and drill-down event analytics. This enables them to do a root cause analysis of any issues with their IoT system.
Starting With CPaaS And SASE
Perform the initial assessment to determine where your company stands in connected devices. What network topology are you employing? Are you using cellular connectivity to connect your IoT devices? Next, determine which devices are most vulnerable and what the dangers are. Finally, determine a gap analysis to see how your infrastructure stacks up against a CPaaS or SASE setup.
If your study demonstrates that a CPaaS or SASE environment is preferable to your present one, you should consider upgrading. The CPaaS deployment paradigm is an excellent method for protecting against IoT device risks. SASE enables users to control all IoT connections to the Internet, intranet, SaaS cloud, and dispersed workforce.
Every business that relies on IIoT devices must be wary of security vulnerabilities. A successful security breach may have disastrous ramifications for any company. However, when it comes to protecting your business from IoT device hackers, cutting-edge security solutions such as CPaaS or SASE will offer your company a lot of confidence.
