What is it?
Traditional IT devices were generally deployed with security in mind, and provisioned and/or certified by IT before deployment. In addition, an asset or patch management framework was in place to monitor and manage the lifecycle of these systems. For these traditional devices, your IT teams would install agents to protect against malware and ransomware and create network segments to isolate systems based on business criticality or for compliance purposes.
Security teams would perform periodic vulnerability scans of the network in an attempt to take inventory of what is on that network, and to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses ahead of attackers.
The effectiveness of these traditional security approaches is difficult or impossible to implement when it comes to IoT, OT and BYOD. Many of these systems were not built with security on board and do not have the capacity to handle security software or updates at all. BYOD devices are controlled by the employee and many will reject the use of agents. The ineffectiveness of existing security practices, coupled with the velocity with which IoT is proliferating creates what we call the IoT security gap.
Who can be impacted?
The expansion of the attack surface caused by the proliferation of IoT and other devices can very seriously impact an organization’s ability to function. The Mirai botnet attack on DNS services in 2016 by connected cameras, routers and other devices proved that organizations dependent on their IP systems can be shut down. When IoT is combined with the employee use of personal devices, it expands the available attack surface exponentially causing both an increase in the inbound attack vectors as well as outbound exfiltration paths.
HEALTHCARE
Medical devices provide a mission critical function monitoring your patients and traveling around your facility, or even leaving your property.
RETAIL
Wireless POS systems processing payments, Bluetooth beacons for personalized shopping experiences, and public WiFi access.
INDUSTRY
Environmental sensors, industrial robots, and connected building systems that help optimize the speed and quality of production.
FINANCIAL
ATMs, card readers, pin pads, and other terminals automating payments and speeding up customer service now connecting to wireless and IP networks.
What's at stake?
Securing the IoT means identifying and protecting connected devices and systems so that the integrity, safety, revenue, and reputation are preserved. In other words, it's time to close the gap.
SAFETY
The importance of cybersecurity for human safety is understated across almost all organizations. Hackers can gain sensitive information about businesses and individuals, but it doesn’t end there. They can breach electrical grids, communications systems, and healthcare equipment. This is not just about protecting livelihoods—it’s about protecting lives.
REVENUE
The entire economy runs on digital networks, so any unauthorized device on your network is a potential threat to your whole operation. For many organizations, data is the most valuable asset. Having broader visibility of your network to identify and neutralize high-risk devices is critical for keeping digital assets secure.
REPUTATION
One breach can destroy an entire organization’s reputation. Businesses that willingly ignore security risks will lose the consumers they have and fail to gain new ones. It’s not about just losing their personal information, either. If intellectual property or financials are exposed, an entire business can go under.
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