Key Points
What Is IoT Security & Why Does It Matter for MSPs?
- IoT security is the practice of protecting Internet-connected devices, including IoT and IIoT devices, from cyberthreats by incorporating them into the overall security strategy.
- IoT security involves securing device access, monitoring activity, encrypting communication, and ensuring visibility across all connected devices to prevent compromise or data theft.
- Replace default passwords with strong credentials, continuously monitor and manage devices using appropriate management tools, use secure, encrypted communication protocols where supported, and maintain device health and visibility.
- With cybercrime targeting IoT endpoints through ransomware, DDoS, and spoofing, MSPs must safeguard client environments, reduce risk exposure, protect sensitive data, and maintain system uptime.
Internet of Things (IoT), along with IoE and IIoT, has taken technology to a new level. IoT is a system of devices that connect to the Internet to communicate and function without human intervention.
Like all endpoints, IoT devices also need to be protected from cyber threats. Below, we’ll look into some ways to secure IoT devices, prioritize IoT security, and how your MSP can approach it.
Is your IT network ready for 2027 and beyond? Learn key strategies to shift to more proactive IT management.
What is IoT?
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of connected devices that are embedded with electronic components that communicate and connect to each other. IoT has transformed technology and allowed it to integrate into various areas of life, from home appliances to transportation.
The main purpose of IoT is to create seamless communication and collaboration between people and their technologies. Essentially, this allows machines to do more heavy lifting to make life easier and more comfortable.
How IoT affects businesses
IoT originally focused on improving everyday devices, like appliances, cars, and thermostats. However, it’s recently become more focused on advancing business processes and technologies. Aspects of business that IoT devices affect include:
- Asset tracking and inventory management
- Data sharing and processing
- Creating new products and services
- Marketing strategies and analysis
The importance of IoT for IT teams
IoT is changing how companies worldwide manage their teams, particularly their hybrid workforces. Let’s look at some of the more remarkable benefits IoT has had on IT teams.
- Strengthening collaboration: According to a recent Gallup poll, 51% of remote-capable U.S. employees now work in a hybrid arrangement, with about 28% fully remote and 21% fully on-site, with numbers remaining stable since 2022.
- Offering more revenue opportunities: IoT big data solutions can give companies valuable insights into their target customer. For example, data sets on consumer behavior from wearables can help further improve their products.
- Creating smart offices: IoT devices in workplaces can also help improve day-to-day operations, especially with intelligent apps working together to optimize the work environment. For example, smart sensors can adjust temperature and lighting based on the number of people working in an office.
And this is just what can be seen now. Imagine what more IoT technology can do or be used for in the future.
How IoT affects MSPs
As businesses begin to incorporate IoT endpoints, they’ll need their MSPs to secure the devices. Securing IoT devices is now a part of endpoint security management. As a result, MSPs will treat IoT devices just like any other endpoints. Even though IoT is a fairly recent invention, there are already plenty of cybersecurity threats targeting IoT endpoints. The Cyber Management Alliance points out five cyberattacks to watch out for with IoT devices:
- Data theft: Threat actors may try to steal personally identifiable information (PII) from IoT devices for nefarious means. This is particularly a risk, considering many IoT devices (as of yet) have limited security measures.
- Phishing: In a phishing email, a cybercriminal tricks users into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials, or interacting with malicious content. Compromised credentials may then be used to gain unauthorized access to IoT devices or their management systems.
- Spoofing: Spoofing involves impersonating a trusted device or user to gain unauthorized access to IoT networks or data.
- Distributed denial of service (DDoS): In a DDoS attack, hackers flood IoT devices or networks with traffic to overload them. This makes them unresponsive or inaccessible.
- Ransomware: Ransomware attacks on IoT devices involve locking down a device or its data until a ransom is paid.
By securing IoT devices, MSPs can help businesses prevent these cyberattacks and protect their IT environments.
Why is IoT security important?
As more organizations adopt IoT technologies, MSPs may play a role in helping secure their IoT devices. IoT devices should be included in an organization’s overall security strategy to help reduce risks to connected systems and data. By incorporating IoT devices into their security practices, MSPs can help:
Secure devices
No business or MSP intentionally uses unsecured devices. Ultimately, cybercrime will continue to rise for the next five years. As such, MSPs and organizations need to take action to secure endpoints, including IoT devices.
Protect data
According to FrameworkIT, “60 percent of small businesses that experience significant data loss are forced to close within six months of the disaster.” Since IoT devices transfer data, they are vulnerable to attack. IoT security protocols protect data to ensure it remains in the right hands. To learn more about how to protect unsecured devices, check out our FAQ on IT asset management.
Manage device health
Malware and other security threats take a toll on devices’ health and performance. To keep IoT devices in optimal condition, it’s important to monitor, manage, and secure them.
Increase visibility
All the best endpoint management solutions often speak about their ability to provide visibility. Visibility is key to managing and maintaining a productive and efficient IT environment. If you can’t see a device, you can’t secure it. Security and visibility go hand-in-hand, so when securing your IoT devices, you also gain additional visibility into your IT environment as a whole.
3 essential IoT security tips for MSPs
All the benefits of securing IoT endpoints sound helpful, but how exactly can MSPs begin securing these devices? Here are some IoT security tips for MSPs to keep in mind:
Tip 1: Change default passwords
Changing default passwords might sound like a no-brainer. However, it is common for businesses to forget to change them after receiving their IoT devices. Changing default passwords and following IoT password best practices is one way to secure these endpoints.
Tip 2: Monitor and manage devices
A common IoT security challenge is gaining visibility and control over these devices. Since IoT endpoints connect to your network, you’ll want appropriate visibility and control over them, just as you do with laptops, servers, and other connected endpoints. To gain the visibility that’s necessary to control these devices, use a compatible endpoint monitoring and management solution.
NinjaOne is an endpoint management company trusted by 40,000+ customers worldwide.
Safeguard connected environments by securing every IoT endpoint. Watch The Importance Of IoT Security: Tips For MSPs And IT Teams to get started.
Tip 3: Encrypt confidential data
If IoT devices handle confidential or critical information, ensure that data is encrypted. As ALSO explains, “Very few devices use encrypted communications as part of their initial configuration. They are more likely to use normal web protocols that communicate in plain text, which makes it easy for hackers to observe them and spot weaknesses.
“This is why it is crucial for all web traffic to use HTTPS, Transport Layer Security (TLS), Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), DNS security extensions, and other secure protocols when communicating over the internet.”
Tip: Want to learn more? We go more in-depth into how to secure IoT devices in this guide.
NinjaOne and IoT security
NinjaOne automates the hardest parts of IT to deliver radical efficiency from day one. Trusted by customers worldwide, NinjaOne is an all-in-one endpoint management software solution that helps IT teams of all sizes. Across all industries, you can monitor, manage, and secure your Windows, macOS, and Linux devices from a single pane of glass.
NinjaOne’s IT management software has no forced commitments and no hidden fees. If you’re ready, request a free quote, sign up for a 14-day free trial, or watch a demo.
