Organizations should follow these 3 steps for ensuring IoT security

As IoT data breaches are increasing, organizations are highly concerned about data they collect. By following the below mentioned steps for enterprise IoT security, they can mitigate the security risks seamlessly.

Since the inception of IoT, we see several organizations utilizing the tremendous power of the technology, with the aim to fuel revolution, innovation, and disruption. The amazing IoT technology serves as a path for several organizations to drive their revenue while improving their products and enhancing customer experience. While the technology is continually leaving everyone stunned with its breathtaking applications, there is still one major issue - security - that can impede IoT from gaining momentum worldwide.

We know that IoT-connected devices have the potential to collect, receive, and share real-time data on our day-to-day activities, which can then be utilized by organizations to gain actionable insights on how to polish their business services. But, what if hackers succeed in obtaining the confidential information being collected? In fact the news on IoT data breaches has already shaken the confidence of IoT users.

However, companies cannot just give up on their IoT initiatives because of the nervousness and anxiety that security threats have stirred. All they need to do is follow certain risk-mitigation steps for enterprise IoT security and then fearlessly drive IoT growth.

1.            Incorporate infrastructure security

As the IoT data is collected in real-time from multiple IoT connected devices, there are various points in the entire IoT infrastructure that need to be protected from hackers. Organizations should use the right encryption method, thereby preventing any malicious activities from dirtying the IoT infrastructure. For example, we never know how hackers will attack our data. They may directly steal the data from IoT hubs or from any other, of the several, touchpoints. Hence, we have to encrypt the entire IoT infrastructure, such that, sending, receiving, accessing and sharing of data undergoes a validation process.

2.            Strengthen the authentication procedure

While carrying out any online transaction, we ensure that we maintain a two-factor authentication by entering the login password and then again a ‘one-time password’ sent to us on mobile or email. Similarly, organizations should confirm that IoT data transmitted via a network is legitimate. How you ask? The answer is, by using a two-factor authentication method. Wherever possible, companies should check the network connection for authentication.

3.            Set strong passwords

We secure our computers from virus attacks by installing several robust anti-virus software. Besides, we also create a difficult-to-crack password so that no one can access our confidential information without our notice. Similarly, we should set a difficult-to-crack password for IoT devices, thereby making the hacker's job way tougher.

Another useful step that organizations can take, is combining IoT and blockchain. Blockchain is the best way to store the collected IoT data. The information stored on blockchain is ‘non-hackable’ due to cryptography. Hence, companies can harness the power of blockchain and combine with IoT to ensure IoT security.

It is evident that for organizations leveraging IoT, it is of paramount importance that they ensure IoT security at an optimal level to be able to attain the full IoT value.