There are several steps to manage security vulnerabilities in Internet of Things (IoT) applications. According to recent studies, the global IoT market is expected to reach over $1.3 trillion by 2026. With the emergence of data analytics, increased cloud platform adoption, and cost-effective connected devices, the market is rapidly expanding. Of course, a strong security strategy is essential for these data-drive applications. Indeed, studies show that customer concerns are rising about the true safety of their data in these apps. As an enterprise developer, you need to know how to secure your Internet of Things applications. This way, you can prevent your enterprise from costly breaches before they arise and continue to grow with the market. Read on to learn about how to manage security vulnerabilities in IoT applications.
Get the right development team
First, it is essential to get the right development team to boost security. Notably, many IoT software with weak security comes from hardware device vendors. Often, these vendors offer software that goes with their products. According to development experts, these weaknesses often arise from inexperienced staff. Indeed, a vendor may make a device but lack a development team who is familiar with the most important security practices. Additionally, industrial control spaces may not connect their technology to the internet. Indeed, many IoT developers are often trained to analyze a different programming model. Therefore, it is essential to get the right members for your development team. Ideally, they should have experience with web development, security, or working with IoT platforms.
Conduct static code analysis
In addition, you should conduct static code analysis to manage your vulnerabilities. To increase analysis efficiency, you can use a code quality scanning tool to identify errors and unsafe coding practices in your programs. For example, many developers use Sonarqube to automate their static code analysis and continuously inspect their programs. Notably, this tool can provide detailed issue descriptions explaining why your code is at risk. This software also offers comprehensive guidance to fix the issue and secure the vulnerability. Moreover, you can install a Sonarqube helm chart to deploy Sonarqube on the Kubernetes cluster as well. This is a great tool to manage your applications files and resources. Surely, it is essential to conduct static code analysis to identify, repair, and manage vulnerabilities in your IoT application programs.
Use reputable IoT platforms
Next, you should use reputable IoT platforms to code your software. Indeed, a reliable platform is essential to invest in future-proof technology and streamline your development processes. To choose the best platform, there are several criteria you should assess. First, look for security solutions such as over-the-air software upgrades (SOTA) or DTLS data encryption. Of course, these will serve as your first line of defense for online security. In addition, your Internet of Things development platform should be able to handle your projected business growth. For the best scalability, look for a platform that can support multi-million object deployments. Importantly, the number of objects in your system can rise exponentially as your enterprise grows. Therefore, it is essential to use reputable IoT platforms that offer strong security solutions and enterprise-ready scalability.
Authenticate all services
Moreover, you need to authenticate all services within your system to increase your security. With proper authentication, any entity attempting to interact with your system must prove their identity to gain access. Importantly, internet of things systems utilize both end-user communication and machine-to-machine communication. For the best security practices, both of these channels require authentication. You can employ traditional username/password logins, certificates, or two-factor authentication to secure your end-user communications. On the other hand, strong machine-to-machine authentication usually requires public key infrastructure and certificates deployed to each device in your system.
Install IoT network security safeguards
Furthermore, you need to install IoT network security safeguards to manage your vulnerabilities. Indeed, the network that connects your IoT devices to your back-end systems must be secure. Ideally, your network security protocols should extend to both design and deployment. Of course, you should try to develop more secure devices or partner with companies who do. However, you should not base your deployments on the assumption that the device is secure. For proper protection, you should install strong firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems to protect your application data. In addition, use prevention systems to increase your network security as well.
There are several steps to manage security vulnerabilities in Internet of Things (IoT) applications. First, you should get an experienced development team with a background in security. Next, use reputable IoT platforms with security features and supportable scalability. In addition, conduct static code analysis to identify vulnerabilities in your programs. Moreover, authenticate all services to within your system to prevent hacks and data breaches. Furthermore, install IoT network security safeguards for secure connections. Follow these steps to manage security vulnerabilities in IoT applications.
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