Review of IoT Security Solutions

The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a cornerstone of digital transformation, enabling organizations to gather real-time insights, enhance efficiency, and create value across various operational spectrum. However, the rapid development of IoT devices also presents a security challenge. Making sure the data in IoT networks is kept private, whole, and available is key to making the most of this technology. This article looks into an array of IoT security solutions, shedding light on their features, and helping organizations navigate the complex landscape of IoT security.

Categories of IoT Security Solutions
IoT security solutions can be broadly categorized into the following segments:

• Network Security: Ensuring the security of the communication channels between IoT devices and backend servers.
• Endpoint Security: Protecting the IoT devices themselves from various forms of cyber threats.
• Identity and Access Management (IAM): Ensuring that only authorized entities can access critical resources within the IoT ecosystem.
• Data Encryption and Privacy: Ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted across IoT networks.
• Monitoring and Anomaly Detection: Identifying and responding to suspicious activities and security incidents in real-time.

Spotlight on Key Players in IoT Security

The IoT security landscape is diverse with a plethora of providers offering a range of solutions. Below we delve into some noteworthy providers and their offerings in IoT security.

1. Armis Specializes in agentless IoT security for enterprise infrastructure, providing behavioral analysis of devices along with monitoring and alerting to anomalies.

• Cybersecurity asset management;
• OT security;
• ICS risk assessment;
• Zero trust, and more.

This comprehensive approach ensures that businesses can proactively secure their IoT deployments and protect critical assets.Notably, Armis made headlines in January 2020 when it was acquired by Insight Partners at a significant valuation of $1 billion. This acquisition aligned Armis with other cybersecurity subsidiaries under the Insight Partners umbrella, such as SentinelOne, Perimeter81, Mimecast, and Tenable.

Key Features:

• Agentless and passive monitoring, facilitating seamless integration into existing infrastructure.
• Robust device contextual details, including model, IP/MAC addresses, operating systems, and usernames.
• Integration of threat intelligence feeds, offering detection and response capabilities.
• Monitoring capabilities spanning a wide spectrum of devices, including IoT, industrial, medical, applications, and cloud-based systems.
• In-built playbooks for both manual and automated responses to policy violations, enhancing proactive threat mitigation and incident response.

Company suggest Free Trial and ability to try Demo version.

2. Broadcom (Symantec) Renowned for its comprehensive threat protection and compliance solutions covering endpoint security, identity security, data protection, and network security. Broadcom’s Symantec is a prominent player in the realm of IoT security within their arsenal:

• Symantec’s Integrated Cyber Defense security bundles;
• Encompassing XDR (Extended Detection and Response);
• SASE (Secure Access Service Edge);
• Zero trust components.

All these serve as comprehensive solutions equipped with essential tools for monitoring and securing IoT devices.

Broadcom extends its IoT security offerings to include a location hub microcontroller and System-on-a-Chip (SoC) systems. These embedded IoT security solutions are invaluable for organizations involved in product manufacturing, offering robust defenses against the unique risks associated with IoT deployments.

Notably, Symantec’s ICS Protection solution presents organizations with a multi-faceted defense strategy. It incorporates an enforcement driver, advanced machine learning capabilities, and access to threat intelligence. These features collectively fortify organizations against IoT-related threats. In addition, Symantec CSP (Critical System Protection) augments the security posture by implementing crucial measures such as application allowlisting, system hardening, and anti-exploit techniques. These proactive measures are essential for mitigating potential vulnerabilities and ensuring the robustness of IoT deployments.

Key Features:

• Embedded IoT security solutions designed to facilitate seamless over-the-air (OTA) management, simplifying the process of updating and maintaining IoT devices.
• A powerful analytics engine capable of processing vast volumes of IoT events, enhancing the ability to detect and respond to security incidents.
• Comprehensive support for both managed and unmanaged devices across hybrid infrastructures, offering a unified approach to IoT security.
• The ability to monitor IoT device performance across various domains, including cloud services, APIs, applications, devices, networks, and more.
• Access to global threat intelligence, which serves as a crucial source of information for defining endpoint security policies and provisioning resources effectively.

Products can be purchased through Broadcom authorized Distributors and Partners in their region or country.

3. Cisco With its acquisition of Sentryo, rebranded as Cyber Vision, Cisco enhances industrial security by providing real-time visibility into industrial assets and communications. The resultant synergy has been optimal visibility into ICS networks through an adaptive edge monitoring architecture alongside Cisco’s existing security stack. Cyber Vision, the Cisco IoT Threat Defense includes:

• Firewalls;
• Identity service engines (ISE);
• Secure endpoints;
• SOAR.

Cisco’s industrial threat defense strategy helps organizations assess risk, identify relationships between systems, and deploy microsegmentation in the name of zero trust. Security administrators gain needed context into IoT and OT security events to leverage existing policies. The Forrester Wave for ICS Security Solutions released earlier this month for Q4 2021 placed Cisco atop the ICS/OT security industry.

Key Features:

• Real-time visibility into industrial assets, communications patterns, and app flows.
• Seamless integration with SOC platforms and SIEM and SOAR systems.
• Alerts for hardware and software vulnerability detection and response.
• Deployable as embedded equipment or an out-of-band SPAN collection network.
• Deep packet inspection (DPI) for understanding context around behavior.

Customers can buy Cisco’s expert guidance.

4. Microsoft Azure – IoT Central Azure IoT Central is a ready-made UX and API surface for connecting and managing devices at scale, delivering reliable data for business insights. It preassembles platform as a service (PaaS) offerings, bringing together each service beneath it for an easy-to-configure, comprehensive, and secure IoT offering.

IoT Central provides various options to support persistent device connectivity:

• Connect devices and transmit data using IoT Hub Device SDKs.
• Connect devices over local network to IoT Edge and transmit data to IoT Central.
• Connect devices using custom protocol using IoT Central Device Bridge.

Customers can calculate the price of the product in correspondence to their needs or try Azure for free.

5. Qualys Cloud Platform Known for its network security and vulnerability management solutions with features like app scanning, network device mapping, and vulnerability prioritization. It is a cloud-based solution that detects all networked assets:

• Servers;
• Network devices (e.g. routers, switches, firewalls, etc.);
• Peripherals (such as IP-based printers or fax machines);
• workstations.

Qualys can assess any device that has an IP address. Get 100% coverage of your installed infrastructure. Eliminate scanning windows.

Free Trial is available for users.

6.Exein Provides an end-to-end security solution tailored for IoT and edge computing devices, offering robust IoT security observability tools.

• Build secure IoT devices with purpose-built technology.
• Automatically detects and secures all connected devices.
• Automates the analysis and identification of security vulnerabilities inside devices.

Demo version is available to everyone who wants to try the product.

7. QNX Software A subsidiary of BlackBerry Limited, QNX Software is recognized for its reliable real-time operating system and solutions for embedded systems. It is embedded OS of choice for vehicles, ventilators, train controls, factory automation systems, medical robots and more. BlackBerry QNX provides the operating systems, hypervisors, tools, services and support you need to build critical embedded systems. Company focuses on new feature releases, safety certifications and security updates allows you to focus on innovation instead of keeping up with OS maintenance and updates.

Free 30-days trial is available for users.

8. Green Hills Software Provides a suite of high-performance compilers, real-time operating systems, and software development tools for embedded systems. Green Hills Software operating systems—the INTEGRITY RTOS—is built around a partitioning architecture that enables embedded developers to ensure their applications meet the highest possible requirements for security, reliability, and performance.

9. Sternum IoT provides a platform aimed at device manufacturers, offering built-in security, granular remote visibility, and business insights. Some advantages include reducing patching costs, improving time to market, and utilizing data for informed decisions. The platform also offers features like risk assessment, early bug detection, and modernizing legacy devices.  A full stack platform for device manufacturers that boosts your business from design to end-of-life.

Key Features:

• Cut patching costs, mitigate risks and streamline compliance.
• Improve time to market, performance, reliability, and quality.
• Use data to inform business decisions and identify opportunities.

For user Demo version is available.

10. Cradlepoint (Ericsson) Leading provider of WAN, edge networking, and cloud solutions. The company, integrates its IoT solution within the comprehensive NetCloud Service. This service encompasses LTE and 5G-compatible wireless edge routers, complemented by a web-based platform designed for the management of edge traffic and IoT services.

NetCloud for IoT stands out by offering features such as remote management, dynamic routing protocols, zone-based firewalls, and extensibility for securing diverse edge environments. Cradlepoint collaborates with an extensive array of IoT devices, ranging from medical equipment and smart buildings to kiosks and digital signage.

Key Features:
Provides comprehensive visibility into accounts, groups, devices, usage, and analytics.

• Optimizes WAN performance, facilitates failover, and implements load balancing for enhanced reliability.
• Supports both static and policy routes, facilitates traffic steering, and offers IP verification.
• Ensures compatibility with both IP versions, accompanied by Quality of Service (QoS) features and an IP passthrough mode.
• Offers advanced management tools such as in-band and out-of-band management, along with the capability to map locations.

11. Entrust Stands as a prominent figure in the global landscape for certificate issuance, identity management, and digital security systems. Trusted by governments, banks, and enterprises worldwide, Entrust IoT Security leverages the vendor’s esteemed Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) solution.

The Entrust PKI suite encompasses key components such as the Certificate Hub, offering meticulous control over digital certificates, Managed PKI Services for outsourcing certificate issuance and management, and Entelligence Security Provider, a tool streamlining enterprise ID management through automation. By relying on Entrust’s PKI solution, organizations deploying IoT devices.

In addition to its broad spectrum of device management solutions, Entrust offers specialized edge device management products, namely IoT Identity Issuance and IoT Identity Management. These agent-based solutions excel in swiftly onboarding and configuring new IoT devices while ensuring secure communication among applications, users, and appliances.

Key Features:

• Facilitates remote management of certificates through an intuitive interface.
• Provides access to key history, backup and recovery configurations, and more.
• Ensures secure, automated updates and upgrades in accordance with the latest security requirements.
• Integrates seamlessly with leading enterprise mobility management (EMM) solutions.
• Encompasses encryption, digital signatures, and authentication for a robust security framework.

From network security to endpoint protection, identity management, and data encryption, these providers are at the forefront of combating the security challenges associated with the evolving IoT landscape.