Organisations deploy Internet of Things devices across their networks without considering security implications. Smart building systems, industrial sensors, connected cameras, and countless other IoT devices create vast attack surfaces that security teams rarely monitor or protect adequately. These devices often run outdated firmware, use default credentials, and lack basic security controls. Attackers leverage compromised IoT devices to gain network access, conduct reconnaissance, and launch attacks against other systems. The convenience of connected devices comes with security costs that most organisations haven’t properly assessed.
Why IoT Devices Create Security Problems
Manufacturers prioritise functionality and cost over security. IoT devices ship with minimal security features because adding robust security increases development costs and complexity. Vendors know customers rarely evaluate security capabilities when purchasing IoT products, removing incentive for improvement. IoT devices lack standardised security update mechanisms. Many devices can’t be updated easily or at all. When vulnerabilities are discovered, organisations often can’t patch affected devices, leaving them perpetually vulnerable. This creates accumulating security debt that never gets addressed. Device lifecycles extend far beyond vendor support periods. An IP camera installed today might still operate in ten years, long after the manufacturer stopped providing security updates. These orphaned devices remain on networks indefinitely, vulnerable to every exploit discovered after vendor support ended.
Building IoT Security Programmes
Inventory all IoT devices on your network before attempting to secure them. Many organisations don’t know what IoT devices they have, where they’re located, or who manages them. Discovering device presence through network scanning provides baseline visibility.
Expert Commentary
Name: William Fieldhouse
Title: Director of Aardwolf Security Ltd
Comments: “IoT device assessments consistently reveal devices with default credentials still enabled, unencrypted communications, and exposed administrative interfaces. Organisations deploy these devices for specific functions without considering broader security implications. The devices often outlast the projects they were purchased for, remaining on networks forgotten and unpatched.”
Segment IoT devices on separate network VLANs with restricted access to other systems. IoT devices shouldn’t communicate with corporate workstations or servers unless specifically required. Network segmentation limits damage when IoT devices are compromised. Change default credentials immediately upon deployment. Default usernames and passwords for IoT devices are publicly documented and trivial for attackers to discover. This single action prevents a significant percentage of IoT-based compromises.
Regular web application penetration testing should include IoT device security assessment when devices have web interfaces. Many IoT devices expose web management interfaces with serious vulnerabilities that attackers exploit for initial access.
Disable unnecessary services and features on IoT devices. Most devices include capabilities that organisations never use. Disabling unused functionality reduces attack surface and eliminates potential vulnerabilities in features nobody actually needs.
Vendor Selection and Management
Evaluate vendor security practices before purchasing IoT devices. Ask about update mechanisms, security response processes, and support lifecycles. Vendors who can’t or won’t answer basic security questions probably don’t prioritise security in their products. Require contractual commitments about security updates and vulnerability disclosure. Don’t rely on vendor promises about supporting devices indefinitely. Get specific timeframes and procedures documented in purchase agreements.
Working with the best penetration testing company that understands IoT security provides assessment of your IoT device security posture. Professional testing identifies vulnerable devices and configuration issues specific to IoT environments.
Monitor IoT device behaviour for anomalies. These devices should have predictable network communication patterns. Unexpected traffic or access attempts indicate potential compromise. Behavioural monitoring catches attacks that signature-based detection misses. Plan for device retirement when vendors stop providing security updates. Unlike enterprise software where end-of-life means migration to newer versions, IoT devices often lack migration paths. Budget for replacing devices when security support ends rather than operating vulnerable devices indefinitely.
Industrial IoT Considerations
Industrial control systems and operational technology devices face additional security challenges. These systems control physical processes where security failures can cause safety incidents. Air-gapped networks provide some protection but create operational challenges that often lead to unofficial connections that bypass security controls. Legacy industrial systems weren’t designed for security and can’t be easily updated. Protecting these systems requires compensating controls like network segmentation, strict access control, and comprehensive monitoring rather than securing the devices themselves.
Healthcare IoT Challenges
Medical IoT devices balance patient safety against security requirements. Security controls can’t interfere with critical medical functions. This constraint limits security options whilst attackers specifically target healthcare environments knowing defences are constrained. Medical device regulation focuses primarily on safety rather than security. Regulatory approvals for medical devices make security updates difficult since changes require revalidation. This creates tension between responding to security vulnerabilities and maintaining regulatory compliance. IoT security requires fundamentally different approaches than traditional IT security. The diversity of devices, long lifecycles, and limited update capabilities demand strategies that emphasise network segmentation, monitoring, and compensating controls rather than relying on device-level security features that manufacturers rarely provide adequately.