In today’s hyper-connected world, where emerging threats lurk around every corner, securing Edge and IoT devices has never been more critical. Increase in global adoption of Edge / IoT devices is contributing to the rising cybercrime rates, as they become prime targets for cyberattacks.
According to the recent Forrester report, the spotlight is on the heightened vulnerabilities these devices face. Read this blog to discover what this means for your organization.
“World Economic Forum estimates that the global cost of cybercrime is expected to jump to $23.84 trillion by 2027.”
Let’s begin with ‘Forrester’s Top Trends in IoT Security in 2024’ report.
Here’s a summarized version by VentureBeat – link.
It’s observed that the cyberattacks targeting enterprises often begin with Edge / IoT devices, followed by personally owned IoT devices. These devices are often challenging to secure because the focus has long been on ensuring compatibility and ease of integration rather than on implementing robust security features. Healthcare and manufacturing sectors are particularly vulnerable due to the widespread use of IoT devices and their security weaknesses.
The report highlights that the breach costs are higher when IoT devices are targeted. Forrester continues to see networking and security leadership pursuing different priorities, leading to disconnects when it comes to securing IoT endpoints. Botnets are increasingly being designed to take control of personal IoT devices and expand the scope of distributed attacks.
Most organizations aren’t aware of how many IoT devices they own and struggle to automate patch management at scale for all their devices. Forrester suggests using vulnerability management solutions that can help organizations identify devices across their infrastructure and assess their security risks. A major finding from the report is that bridging the security gaps between IoT sensors, systems, and legacy infrastructure is becoming increasingly difficult.
All you need to know about the top challenges in Edge / IoT Infrastructure Management
- Varied Endpoints: Managing diverse endpoints from different OEMs with various protocols and operating systems through isolated applications.
- Fragmented Alerts: Absence of unified alerts for device failures, performance issues, or configuration changes.
- Lack of Standardized IAM: No consistent identity and access management system for edge devices.
- Limited Resources: Small teams are tasked with overseeing numerous OT/LOB-owned edge devices.
- Complex Configurations: Thousands of settings require continuous monitoring and management.
- Evolving Management Needs: Edge/IoT devices are delivering new services, making management more challenging, time-consuming, and costly.
- Increased Security Threats: Rising security risks jeopardize sensitive data and demand substantial resources to mitigate.
How to tackle these challenges and ensure security of the edge?
Advanced technologies like AI/ML-based automation, such as those offered by SmartHub.ai enable efficient management of Edge infrastructure while ensuring robust operational performance and cybersecurity.
AI and ML bring new levels of automation, particularly in enhancing security measures. By consolidating edge data from diverse systems, organizations gain comprehensive operational insights and predictive analytics, allowing for better performance monitoring and early detection of potential failures. Machine learning capabilities help identify patterns, detect anomalies, and manage configuration drifts during cybersecurity incidents.
Take the initial step to securing your edge with an assessment of your current infrastructure to identify potential vulnerabilities and risks.
Reach SmartHub.ai at: getintouch@smarthub.ai
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Website: www.smarthub.ai
