IoT Security Penetration Testing
IoT systems are convergence of various devices, applications and systems and covers entire spectrum from field devices to cloud. It makes them most vulnerable and heterogeneous in nature. Without holistic approach to security, the benefits of IoT systems would be negligible.
Yes, the data within IoT system flows from various devices and applications installed at disparate geographies and hence the local laws and regulations are applicable to the IoT system install base. Moreover, adherence to these regulations & standards improves your cyber security posture which is beneficial to the organization.
It is advisable to perform risk assessment of every components who stores or transmit the data in the system before installation as well as after integrated live environment. Typically, vulnerabilities in the firmware developed in any embedded electronic device are detected only after they are made live in the system environment due to neglect of security aspect in the design. A weak security aspect can be exploited by hackers to change the firmware of the device. Similarly, most components of the IoT are developed by respective OEMs based on their own standards. That leaves many gaps in the integrated environment which could be exploited by the hackers.
ICS or SCADA systems are the main source of data generation in industrial IOT, popularly known as IIoT. These systems are very critical for any industry and its availability and integrity is of very important. Being exposed these systems to corporate network and internet in IIoT environment; make them most vulnerable to very high threats due to nature of these systems which effectively puts organization to the very high risk of loss of production, revenue, capital investment & human lives.
The best approach for any organization to maintain and sustain high cyber security is to follow the principle of security by design and implementation by design and maintenance by standard. The organizations should consider security as one of the main aspect right from code development.
Sure, Valency Network can help you with independent and stand alone cyber security services as per your security requirements.
What are the major privacy and security issues in IoT?
As most of the devices may be battery operated, due to less processing power the security and privacy is a major issue in IoT. Authentication, Identification and device heterogeneity are the major security and privacy concerns in IoT. Major challenges include integration, scalability, ethics communication mechanism, business models and surveillance.
Why is device management important for an IoT device?
The capabilities of an IoT device management platform can save time, reduce costs, improve security, and provide the critical monitoring and management tools you need to keep your devices online, up-to-date, and optimized for your specific application needs.
What is an insecure configuration?
Configurations are crucial to an application's security. Default configurations are frequently retrieved from the vendor's handbook or the Internet to run systems and apps. It's simple to guess passwords, bypass login screens, and identify well-known setup flaws with this method. Another example of insecure configuration management is when a configuration is just incorrect, either from the beginning or after changes have been made that jeopardize the application or system's security. This faulty setup could then be utilized throughout the organization.
What is a physical vulnerability in an IoT device?
Any flaw or weakness in a data system or its hosting environment that can allow a physical attack on the system is described as a physical vulnerability. Physical security threats on data systems come in a variety of forms. Today, cyber security in terms of digital attacks has received a lot of attention, with a variety of sophisticated devices, software, applications, and monitoring systems built and installed to stay ahead of all types of cyber-attacks. Physical safety, on the other hand, is crucial.
What is the biggest challenge with Penetration Testing on IoT devices?
The biggest challenge with penetration testing is the diversity in IoT. For IoT, there are new architectures that are uncommon for most penetration testers (ARM, MIPS, SuperH, PowerPC, etc.). Different communication protocols like ZigBee, SDR (Software Defined Radio), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), NFC (Near Field Communication), that requires new expertise and tools to test them. Dealing with Real-Time Operating Systems may require the penetration tester to create new tools from scratch to support this kind of technology. Traditional penetration testers can get completely lost in the vulnerabilities of embedded devices and these protocols.
When is IoT testing applicable?
An Internet of Things security test is performed for any device that will be connected to a network under normal use. From cameras to toothbrushes, connected devices are actively being targeted by threat actors aiming to Serve malicious or illegally obtained software; Compromise individual and corporate privacy; Details of the motivations and goals for the relevant threats.
Why is there a need for encryption for IoT devices and IoT device communication?
By default, many IoT devices are not particularly secure. They might have poor password requirements or the vendor might not keep the software or firmware up to date. And if a device stores any data, it could be easily readable to anyone with access. This is why data encryption is so critical for IoT security.
What are the methodologies used with IoT pentesting?
There are three methodologies used with IoT pentesting, Black Box, White Box, and Grey box.
What are the activities involved in the security testing of IoT products?
List of activities involved in security testing of IoT products:
- Threat modeling of IoT product
- Firmware security
- Review of encryption used in IoT product
- Code review
- Privacy review
- Protocol fuzzing
- Network traffic analysis
- API Testing
- Penetration testing
List a few IoT security testing tools.
Some of the efficient IoT security testing tools are-
- Appknox- uses an automated security testing suite.
- AWS IoT device defender- is a fully managed system that works to protect your IoT devices. It monitors your IoT configurations nonstop and makes sure that they run security best practices properly.
- Verimatrix- develops content security for digital television systems worldwide by designing software-based cybersecurity solutions, authentication, as well as watermarking.
- Palo Alto Network- a multinational cybersecurity company and builds platforms that consist of progressive firewalls, as well as those cloud-based offerings that expand the firewalls to take care of other segments of security.
- Entrust- Entrust safeguards your experiences on the internet along with authentication products using advanced SSL technologies. The IoT Agent from Entrust helps achieve that goal by enabling high-assurance IoT security to drive innovation.
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