The Internet of Things (IoT) continues to expand rapidly as technology evolves, touching industries, enterprises, homes, and individuals. With this growth comes a growing concern for IoT security. While technological advancements have improved capabilities, they have also introduced new vulnerabilities. Protecting IoT systems from cyber threats has become a critical challenge.
As the IoT ecosystem expands into corporate, industrial, and public utility applications, the risks associated with weak security are increasing. Before IoT can deliver its full potential and benefits to society, ensuring its security is essential. Without robust protection, the risks involved could prevent widespread adoption across industries.
In response to these challenges, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) outlined six key principles in November 2016 to address IoT security concerns:
- Integrate security into the design process
- Strengthen security updates and vulnerability management
- Base security on proven practices
- Prioritize security measures based on impact
- Enhance transparency in IoT systems
- Be cautious when connecting to the internet
These principles offer practical guidance for manufacturers and users to understand and implement trust architectures within IoT devices. For example, trusted execution environments in processors can help create more secure IoT devices, allowing users to benefit from reliable networked systems.
One major issue in the IoT industry is the lack of security integration at the design stage. The large-scale DDoS attack in 2016 was caused by default passwords and open services on connected devices, highlighting the need for better security protocols.
Routers located at the edge of local networks or the internet are well-suited to detect and block malicious activities. However, entrusting IoT security to ISPs can be challenging. As more IoT devices move to wireless connections, ISPs may become more motivated to enhance their security measures.
Network equipment companies and processor vendors already use various security techniques such as packet filtering, deep packet inspection (DPI), IPsec, and SSL authentication. These methods help protect data transmitted over networks, and their performance can be enhanced depending on the processor and network speed.
Another approach is User/Entity Behavior Analysis (UEBA), which uses machine learning to detect anomalies in network traffic. This helps identify potential threats such as unauthorized access, data leaks, or fraud. UEBA can be implemented through general-purpose processors today and may eventually move to dedicated machine learning hardware.
Responsible IoT developers must prioritize security during the design phase. Choosing the right processors is crucial, especially when it comes to platform security. It should be a key factor in component selection.
Beyond network security features, processors also support platform trust functions that extend the Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) of ARM CPUs. These functions provide security throughout the device lifecycle, including manufacturing, deployment, operation, updates, and decommissioning.
According to the DHS, integrated security features can significantly enhance a device’s own protection and integrity. This aligns with the goal of building more secure IoT ecosystems.
Security updates and vulnerability management remain a major weakness in the IoT industry. For average users, the primary concern is whether their devices or data will be compromised by hackers. While smartphones face similar risks, they continue to improve security. In 2016, Apple made it extremely difficult for the FBI to access an iPhone, demonstrating the power of strong security measures.
Similarly, IoT devices can benefit from trusted platforms that ensure only signed code can run on them. These platforms protect both software and stored data, giving OEMs greater control over what can be executed on the device.
Ideally, IoT devices should ship with zero vulnerabilities. However, in practice, errors are inevitable. With a trusted platform and proper update tools, firmware can be securely updated using encryption keys stored in the chip. This ensures that even if old firmware is compromised, it cannot be restored.
The DHS also proposed a shutdown strategy for devices, where they could self-decommission after a certain period or upon receiving a signal from the OEM. This would require secure boot and update procedures to ensure compliance.
Most technology vendors encourage customers to use built-in security features, which are based on proven practices. OEMs can leverage documentation and support to implement these features effectively.
For customization, vendors often provide consulting services and assist in system verification to ensure compliance with best practices from organizations like DHS, NIST, and OWASP.
Many security weaknesses can be eliminated by preventing unauthorized code execution. Vendors emphasize that integrating trust functions into processors should be a top priority for IoT designers.
Transparency plays a vital role in assessing trustworthiness. Users need to understand system vulnerabilities, while developers must know the risks in hardware and software components. Even without known flaws, visibility into the development process helps assess risk accurately.
The DHS report highlights supply chain risks, especially with low-cost solutions. Technology vendors play a key role in improving transparency by helping OEMs define secure manufacturing models.
During the product lifecycle, OEMs can load signed code onto chips without relying on confidentiality mechanisms. Unique IDs and salts are burned into each chip, allowing OEMs to generate their own secrets and store them securely.
ODMs can generate unique public-private key pairs using the salt, with the private key never leaving the chip. OEMs sign program code with the public key and send it to the ODM for burning. At boot time, the processor verifies the code against the OEM, ensuring no tampering.
This mechanism applies to firmware updates and device decommissioning, maintaining transparency and integrity throughout the device's life. Vendors also clearly state their security declarations, enabling the industry to evaluate trustworthiness.
Another common oversight in the IoT industry is the accidental connection of devices to the internet. Many breaches occur because devices are improperly configured or left exposed. For instance, a credit card terminal at Target was remotely accessed, and a security camera’s Telnet port was exposed.
Routers at the customer’s site or the edge of the internet are ideal for monitoring traffic, setting up firewalls, detecting intrusions, and analyzing behavior. As shown in Figure 2, routers can act as security agents for IoT devices, enhancing protection.
With better-designed routers, SSL or IPsec can be used to authenticate and reject unauthorized devices. Tools for IoT security are available, but their implementation depends on OEMs. Network equipment companies and ISPs also need to step up their efforts to support IoT security.
Overall, securing the IoT ecosystem requires a combination of smart design, proactive updates, transparency, and collaboration across the supply chain. Only through these efforts can the full potential of IoT be realized safely and securely.
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