What is IoT?
IoT, or Internet of things, is a term that is used to refer to devices that connect to the internet. The interesting part of IoT is that standard “computers” and other similar devices are part of IoT. However, this group also includes devices that aren’t traditionally seen as a device that would have needed connection to the internet at the time.
These devices not only connect to the internet, but can transmit data back and forth between other devices without human intervention. Examples of these devices would include: Smartphones, Smart Refrigerators, Amazon’s Alexa Products and Google’s Home Devices.
IoT in the Workplace
Utilizing IoT devices in the workplace can have many benefits. IoT devices, in many cases, will help to improve efficiency and productivity within an organization or business.
A workplace is similar to a home in terms of IoT advantages. You could utilize intelligent lighting to only turn lights on during business hours, smart appliances to keep track of where things are stored and when they need to be reordered, and even amazon echo devices to set reminders for tasks that need to be completed in the future.
IoT Security
With the rapid embracement of these new IoT devices, such as the smart home devices, the security for these devices is trying to catch up to the introduction of the newer technology. When it comes to the security of these devices, there are several tips that we can follow:
First, you should assume that every new device that you purchase will need to be configured. No matter if you acquired a smart watch or a smart fridge, these things are connected to the internet which means you could be in the line of fire for a possible cyber-attack. You need to ensure that you have taken the time to setup and protect your devices via the available settings.
Another great tip is to always make sure that your devices are updated. Not only will older software slow down and decrease productivity for your devices, but devices that are running on previous versions of software are particularly vulnerable to attacks. It’s important to make sure that you keep everything updated to its newest version. Updates help eliminate and protect your devices against known flaws in their software.
Unused features of IoT devices are another sector of security concern. IoT devices often are capable of many services or features that don’t always get used. By turning off unused features, like microphones and location tracking for example, it eliminates points of interest for an attacker. A smart watch for example, might be used primarily to simply check the time. However, the watch could come with the capability to utilize Bluetooth or NFC (Near Field Communication) services. These services, if left unmonitored could leave that device vulnerable to open communication with other unwarranted devices.
How Firestorm Cyber Can Protect Your IoT Devices
Firestorm Cyber offers a great firewall service in order to help you secure your network that your devices are connecting to. When implemented, the firewall will protect your network by monitoring and denying traffic that could be malicious to your network or the devices that are connected to it.
Firestorm Cyber also offers Sophos endpoint protection which is a great way to help secure your devices such as computers, phones and tablets. The endpoint protection software is a combination of anti-virus and threat detection software which helps to identify risks and threats and then handles them accordingly.