Internet of Things devices proliferate across enterprise networks. Smart building systems, industrial sensors, IP cameras, and countless other connected devices create massive attack surfaces that traditional security tools struggle to protect.
Visibility represents the first challenge. Many IoT devices connect to networks without IT department awareness or approval. Shadow IoT creates blind spots in security monitoring and patch management. You can’t protect what you don’t know exists.
Default credentials plague IoT devices. Manufacturers ship devices with well-known default passwords. Many never get changed during deployment. Attackers systematically scan for devices accessible with default credentials, adding them to botnets or using them as entry points for network infiltration.
Firmware updates for IoT devices often get neglected. Unlike servers and workstations that receive regular patches, IoT devices might never get updated after installation. They accumulate known vulnerabilities that remain exploitable indefinitely. Comprehensive external network penetration testing examines how exposed IoT devices could enable initial access to your network.
Limited computing resources on IoT devices restrict security capabilities. Many devices lack the processing power to run robust security controls. They can’t support encryption, detailed logging, or intrusion detection. Their minimal operating systems have limited security features.
William Fieldhouse, Director of Aardwolf Security Ltd, observes: “IoT security requires fundamentally different approaches. These devices weren’t designed with security in mind. When we conduct network penetration testing, IoT devices consistently provide easy initial access to supposedly secure networks.”
Network segmentation provides critical protection for IoT devices. Placing them in isolated VLANs prevents compromised devices from accessing critical business systems. If an IP camera gets hacked, it shouldn’t be able to reach your database servers.
Authentication mechanisms on IoT devices rarely meet modern security standards. Many support only basic password authentication. Implementing network access control that validates devices before granting network access helps, but compatibility challenges arise with older devices.
Encryption in transit and at rest often gets omitted from IoT devices. They transmit sensitive data over unencrypted channels, making interception trivial. Stored credentials, configuration data, and captured information sit unencrypted in device memory.
Physical security for IoT devices deserves consideration. Devices installed in public or semi-public areas face tampering risks. Attackers with physical access can extract credentials, modify firmware, or simply steal devices to analyse them offline.
API security for IoT management platforms requires attention. Cloud-based IoT management systems control potentially thousands of devices. Vulnerabilities in these platforms could enable mass compromise. Securing the management layer is as critical as securing individual devices. Professional internal network penetration testing reveals lateral movement risks from compromised IoT devices.
Monitoring IoT device behaviour helps detect compromises. Unexpected network connections, unusual traffic volumes, or changes in communication patterns warrant investigation. Baseline normal behaviour first, then alert on deviations.
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