[E-book] Eight Steps to IoT Security: A practical guide to implementing security in IoT devices

[E-book] Eight Steps to IoT Security: A practical guide to implementing security in IoT devices | SPONSORED

Implementing cybersecurity for IoT devices doesn’t have to be complex. Complexity occurs when product teams treat security as an afterthought in the global IoT project, rather than considering and implementing security at the design stage. Sometimes this is due to a lack of expertise by the product team. Other times a new project must leverage older hardware platforms and manufacturing processes that weren’t designed with security in mind.

Device manufacturers must grasp three important concepts in cybersecurity:

1. Security is a journey, not a destination

There is no such thing as “perfect security.” Standards will evolve. New tactics and requirements will be put into place. Security must be designed to evolve as well. It is better to have a measured approach to security and implement a plan in phases than to try unsuccessfully to implement everything all at once.

2. There is no “one size fits all” security plan

Every project will have restrictions. Whether it’s power consumption, processor power, or bill of material and budgetary restraints, each project will be different. There­fore, each cybersecurity plan must also be tailored.

3. On new projects, security needs to be thought of at the beginning, not tossed on at the end

Early planning is essential for hardware and chip selection, as there are numerous factors to consider. It is advisable to prioritize security rather than compromising it to accommodate an earlier decision.

You must design hardware that will be flexible enough to support security not just for today, but also for the future. This means anticipating and monitoring the emergence of not-so-distant standards, regulations, and technology. Your product may not implement the foreseen security all at once, but the hardware should be designed to accommodate the targeted security upgrades to come and be capable of handling future security requirements.

With the appropriate hardware platform, a well-designed process, and a phased approach to implementation, you can constantly improve your product security by means of secure firmware upgrades throughout the product’s useful life.

This is an excerpt from the “Eight Steps to IoT Security: A practical guide to implementing security in IoT devices” Ebook, sponsored by Keyfactor.

For more insights, download the e-book.