5 Essential Steps to Ensure Secure Communication with IoT Devices

The Internet of Things has become ubiquitous today, connecting over 15 billion IoT gadgets worldwide. However, with this increased connectivity comes the potential for data protection challenges. So it’s crucial to ensure secure communication with IoT devices.

Want to shield your personal data or prevent your organization from breaches leading to heavy consequences? Then, keep reading WebbyLab’s guide on network security with IoT devices. We’ll share the five steps to make your IoT data and device-to-device communication safe and smooth. We’ll also explain the associated risks leveraging our profound experience in IoT devices development.

Understand the Risks Associated with IoT Devices

IoT devices leverage a local network to exchange data with each other and perform specific tasks without human effort. However, while beneficial to individuals and businesses, these devices come with particular security risks. Learn about the potential threats if you aim to provide secure IoT communication.

• Outdated software and no timely updates

Many IoT devices aren’t designed with security in mind. So they may not receive regular updates to fix software vulnerabilities or bugs. As a result, such devices are vulnerable to hackers’ attacks as they can exploit those weaknesses. That’s why you should take care of your IoT ecosystem security.

• Poor passwords

IoT devices often have default or weak passwords that are easy to crack. It leaves space for brute-force attacks or password-guessing bots. They can gain unauthorized access to the device to control it remotely or steal sensitive data. Thus, changing passwords is essential for IoT device security.

• User unawareness

It took several years for users to learn about phishing and other scams. Still, many are unaware of the security risks associated with IoT devices, including data breaches and unauthorized access. Thus, people often use IoT systems carelessly and neglect regular security updates.

• Botnet attacks

A botnet is a group of malware-infected devices hackers control remotely. Cybercriminals use them to launch large-scale attacks like Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS), taking down websites or entire networks. Therefore, they can target your IoT device or entire ecosystem to steal confidential data or affect device performance.

• Unreliable deployment locations

Securing IoT devices is especially challenging when they are connected to Wi-Fi networks or located in remote areas with limited physical security. It makes them particularly vulnerable to hacker attacks and data theft risks.

• Poor data protection

Many IoT devices transmit data over the Internet or store it locally, making them sensitive to data breaches. If this information lacks proper encryption and data protection measures, cybercriminals can intercept it and use it maliciously.

We mentioned just a few examples of potential IoT-related challenges. But why are they vulnerable to such cybersecurity threats? Such devices are usually small and resource-constrained, with limited computing power and memory. Besides, they often use wireless communication protocols, making them a perfect target for hackers. However, paying enough attention to possible risks helps secure communication with IoT devices.

5 Steps to Ensure Secure Communication with IoT Devices

As you can see, IoT devices require proper security protocols and measures to prevent cyber threats. To keep your data and ecosystem safe, follow our five primary steps to building a secure network with IoT devices.

1. Change Default Usernames and Passwords

The first step to establishing secure communication for smart IoT device is to change the default usernames and passwords. Unfortunately, hackers can effortlessly guess the default credentials or find them online and gain access to your network. So it’s better to tackle that issue beforehand.

You can alter the usernames and passwords in the following way:

1. Find your IoT device’s default username and password in the user manual or online documentation.
2. Log in to the device’s web interface or mobile app using the default credentials.
3. Find the option to change the username and password in the IoT device’s settings or security menu.
4. Create strong and unique credentials. Use an unpredictable combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.
5. Save the new username and password.

2. Keep Software and Firmware Up-to-Date

Regularly install software and firmware updates for your IoT ecosystem. Outdated networks leave IoT devices vulnerable to cyber attacks. That’s because they often include known weaknesses hackers can exploit.

IoT device manufacturers tend to roll out OTA software updates to fix issues. That’s why it’s a good idea to monitor their releases and install them as soon as possible. This way, you will protect your network from hacks and bugs.

Additionally, updating TLS is critical if you use self-signed or other certificates that expire over time. Note that they generally change during the firmware update procedure.

3. Enable Encryption

Another crucial step is to enable IoT encryption. It ensures your IoT data remains confidential and secure during transmission. That involves protecting communication between secure IoT devices and servers. Encryption protocols convert data into an unreadable format that one can only decrypt with a key.

To provide network security with encryption, WebbyLab suggests leveraging the following methods:

• Use TLS and SSL security protocols.
• Encrypt firmware and data during the manufacturing process or firmware updates.
• Choose a robust encryption algorithm like AES, RSA, or SHA.
• Use reliable sources for firmware updates.

4. Use a Secure Network

The next step to securing IoT connectivity involves secure network adoption. For example, public Wi-Fi security is weak, so it’s not the best choice for your ecosystem.

The WebbyLab suggests setting up a protected network by following these steps:

1. Change your router’s default network name and password into a strong and unique one.
2. Enable WPA2 or WPA3 encryption on your router to protect the data transmitted over the network.
3. Disable the router’s remote management.
4. Set up a guest network for visitors or devices that don’t need access to the main system.
5. Limit the network range to ensure the signal doesn’t reach outside your home or office.

5. Monitor Your IoT Devices Regularly

Finally, handle regular IoT device monitoring to provide top-notch security through penetration testing or other security testing techniques. This approach helps identify potential breaches or vulnerabilities like unusual activity or unauthorized access.

Follow these tips to set up alerts or notifications for your IoT device management and monitoring:

• Use security software to monitor network traffic and device activity.
• Enable the logging feature on your IoT device to record all activities.
• Regularly check for any software updates or security patches on your IoT device.
• Monitor the device’s performance to spot unusual behavior like sudden slowdowns or crashes.

With the help of robust IoT monitoring systems, you can significantly reduce data breaches and malicious attack risks.

Additional Tips for Securing Communication with IoT Devices

Do you want to reach even more protected connectivity with IoT devices? WebbyLab offers some more methods we regularly leverage in our projects.

• Use two-factor authentication (2FA). It will add an extra security layer to access control. 2FA requires users to provide two forms of identification, such as a password and a one-time code sent to a smartphone.
• Disable unnecessary features. Some unnecessary functions can create additional entry points for attackers. Thus, it’s better to turn off all redundant elements of your device’s system. 
• Consider using a virtual private network (VPN). This tool establishes a secure and encrypted connection between the IoT device and the network. This way, it prevents unauthorized data interception risks.
• Use secure and standard communication protocols. Most frameworks support MQTT and HTTPS. Luckily, setting up encrypted communication with their help is pretty straightforward.
• Be careful with device discovery mechanics. It’s better to prevent access of unregistered devices to the system’s API. You can implement additional mechanisms for discovering devices and approving them according to particular criteria.
• Allocate a separate network for local stand-alone systems. Attackers have a minimal chance of hacking your IoT device if the entire system works only within a local network.
• Use factory reset protection. Suppose your device is in a public place, and an attacker can access it. Then, it’s better to add precautions from resetting the device to factory settings.
• Leverage secure boot. This way, you will ensure that only authorized software enters the device. It prevents unauthorized access to the IoT system and doesn’t let in malicious software.
• Use code signing. This process verifies if the code executed on a device is authorized. Thus, you will prevent hackers from installing malicious programs into your IoT system.
• Implement hardware-based security features. Functions like secure boot, the hardware-based root of trust, and secure enclave help to ensure communication security in IoT. They protect the devices from tampering and unauthorized access.
• Secure IoT device interfaces. Make sure to protect USB ports, debug ports, and JTAG ports from potential attacks.

Apply these IoT best practices to provide secure communication with IoT devices and your entire ecosystem.

Hop on Secure IoT Device Development with WebbyLab

The Internet of Things has initiated the era of interconnected devices. However, it also creates new security challenges along the way. So today, it’s critical to provide secure IoT communication to protect sensitive data from cyber threats.

You can use this guide to handle your IoT security or transfer this task to a reliable partner like WebbyLab. We are experts in IoT device development and can assist you in implementing all necessary measures to keep your IoT system and data safe. Don’t hesitate to contact us for help in creating reliable IoT solutions.