The past few years have seen an exponential boom in IoT and Smart devices, the trajectory of which is sure to continue well into the future. Organisations and individual consumers have adopted IoT devices readily, shaping both business and everyday life. And while there’s much to be said for the positives of the streamlined processes and expanded data collection abilities that Smart and IoT technologies allow, there is also a darker undercurrent which must be addressed. The proliferation of Smart and IoT devices will lead to increased amounts of cyber attacks as hackers seek to exploit any weak cybersecurity measure.

For organisations across sectors, this must be treated as a serious concern. For example, if a manufacturing organisation has invested in a brilliant new Smart Factory, filled with IoT machines, a cyber attack could result in decreased output or faulty products. Or, hackers intercepting and tampering with communications between an autonomous vehicle, like a car, could lead to a deadly accident. Protecting IoT and Smart technologies is no longer a question of just security, but also of safety.

Each IoT device represents a separate point of attack, creating new entry points in an organisation’s attack surface. Therefore, every device must have the capability to resist costly and potentially dangerous hacks.

For organisations looking to ward off IoT or Smart-based cyber attacks, the first step is to include these devices in an overarching cybersecurity plan. If these IoT devices are not proprietary (as most will be), ask the manufacturer about what cybersecurity measures they have built in. If you find these protections to be lacking, it’s worth employing other means, such as ANGOKA’s security solution, to ensure your devices and their communications are secure.

IoT and Smart technologies are here to stay, and will shape the future in exciting ways. Ensuring that the cybersecurity of these devices is as strong as possible will pave the way for a safe, optimised future.