The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical devices embedded with sensors, software, and connectivity that enables them to collect and exchange data over the internet. IoT devices range from industrial control systems and SCADA platforms to smart building infrastructure like HVAC controls and access systems.

These connected devices create significant security risks for organizations. Most IoT devices lack built-in security features, making them targets for default credential attacks and network infiltration. When IT systems connect with operational technology (OT) environments through IoT, the potential damage from security failures increases dramatically. Attackers use AI-driven social engineering campaigns to target IoT infrastructure and gain access to critical systems.

Enterprise IoT deployments span multiple categories, each presenting unique security challenges. These categories include the following:

Industrial IoT devices include SCADA systems, Distributed Control Systems (DCS), and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) that manage critical operational processes. These systems increasingly connect to corporate networks for remote monitoring despite traditionally operating in isolated environments. Ransomware attacks targeting OT/ICS networks create a potentially catastrophic operational impact.

Network equipment bridges traditional IT and operational technology environments, creating complex security challenges. These devices include industrial gateways, edge computing platforms, and hybrid systems processing both business data and operational control signals. Organizations report significant technical and cultural differences between teams managing these converged systems.

Connected building systems include HVAC controls, lighting management, access control systems, and environmental monitoring devices. These IoT implementations span multiple network segments with varying security policies, creating visibility gaps that attackers exploit for lateral movement.

IoT security architecture operates through four interconnected layers that create both operational value and cybersecurity risk.

• Device Layer: Physical IoT devices collect data through sensors, actuators, and embedded computing systems. These endpoints run lightweight operating systems with minimal security controls, creating vulnerabilities that require network-level monitoring and access controls.

• Network Layer: Communication protocols enable device connectivity through wireless, cellular, or wired connections. This layer requires encryption, authentication, and traffic analysis to detect unusual behavior indicating compromise.

• Platform Layer: Cloud-based or on-premises platforms aggregate IoT data for processing and analysis. These systems manage device provisioning, firmware updates, and security policy enforcement while integrating with enterprise security infrastructure.

• Application Layer: User interfaces and business applications consume IoT data to drive operational decisions. This layer presents attack surfaces through web interfaces, mobile applications, and API endpoints requiring secure development practices and continuous vulnerability management.

Security teams deploy the following IoT-specific detection and response capabilities to address unique connected device challenges:

• Behavioral Analysis Platforms: Advanced solutions employ hybrid threat detection combining signature-based detection with behavioral anomaly analysis to identify zero-day attacks targeting IoT devices.

• Network Visibility Tools: Comprehensive monitoring platforms provide continuous visibility into wireless communications and device behavior patterns that traditional security tools cannot detect.

• Asset Discovery Systems: Automated device identification catalogs all connected endpoints across IT and OT environments, ensuring complete inventory management for compliance and risk assessment.

• Microsegmentation Solutions: Network security controls implement specific traffic policies between IoT devices and critical business systems, containing potential data breaches and limiting attacker lateral movement.

The scale of IoT interconnectedness amplifies known security risks and creates new attack vectors that organizations must address. Here are some of the most common risks and challenges associated with IoT:

IoT devices often ship with weak authentication that attackers exploit to gain network access. Cybercriminals infect large segments of devices simultaneously, accessing sensitive data or using devices in distributed attacks. Compromised devices expose operational data and enable account takeover attacks targeting connected users.

Devices from different manufacturers use varying communication protocols, preventing unified security monitoring. This fragmentation creates blind spots where threats move between device ecosystems without triggering detection. Security teams struggle to maintain consistent policies across different IoT environments.

Organizations struggle to process the volume of data generated by IoT devices, missing critical security signals amid operational noise. Without proper analytics capabilities, teams cannot identify subtle behavioral changes indicating compromise or detect data exfiltration through legitimate-looking communications.

Securing IoT environments requires specialized expertise for network segmentation and device lifecycle management. Coordinating security controls across IT and OT systems demands collaboration between teams with different priorities. Data protection and privacy laws vary across jurisdictions, requiring compliance across multiple frameworks.

Organizations strengthen IoT security through strategic controls and operational practices, reducing attack surfaces and improving threat visibility.

Most IoT devices offer features that balance convenience against security. Organizations should examine settings carefully with steps such as:

• Reviewing security settings and selecting options meeting operational needs without creating unnecessary risk

• Reevaluating configurations after software updates or when new vulnerabilities emerge

• Disabling unused features, expanding the attack surface

• Documenting configuration standards for consistent deployment across device fleets

Manufacturers issue patches fixing known vulnerabilities. Also, applying updates promptly protects devices from exploitation. Here are some more steps that organizations must take:

• Establish processes for tracking security advisories from device manufacturers

• Test patches in controlled environments before wide deployment

• Automate security updates where feasible to reduce administrative burden

• Maintain an inventory of devices requiring manual update procedures

Continuous Internet connectivity expands exposure to potential attackers. Organizations should evaluate whether persistent connections are operationally necessary and take the following steps:

• Implement network segmentation between IoT devices and critical business systems

• Deploy certificate-based authentication for device-to-system communications

• Configure specific traffic controls with automated policy enforcement

• Monitor unusual connection patterns indicating potential compromise

Default passwords configured for easy setup provide no protection. Strong authentication barriers prevent unauthorized access. The steps for this are as follows:

• Replace default credentials immediately during device provisioning

• Implement password policies requiring complexity and regular rotation

• Deploy multifactor authentication where supported by device capabilities

• Use centralized identity management for consistent credential governance

Comprehensive IoT security requires alignment with established cybersecurity frameworks and regular vulnerability assessment. For this, organizations can begin with:

• Following the NIST cybersecurity framework guidelines for IoT environments

• Conducting regular vulnerability assessments

• Integrating IoT monitoring with existing SIEM platforms for unified threat visibility

• Establishing device lifecycle management covering provisioning, updates, and decommissioning

Secure your organization against IoT threats with Abnormal’s behavioral AI solutions. Book a demo today to learn more.