Security risks have spiked simultaneously with the increased use of the Internet of Things. The incorporation of smart sensors and other technologies within buildings have become more popular in recent years, but these systems and tools come with their fair share of challenges.
Cybercriminals are often able to take advantage of vulnerabilities in certain technologies, even ones that may not be considered a threat. For example, President Joe Biden was told not to bring his smart bike into the White House in January due to security risks.
Prior to the mass adoption of IoT, buildings used self-contained systems that were safe from hackers. Now that remote management has become a mainstay, the threat of hacking has become real.
“Poorly configured building management systems, which handle aspects such as access control and air conditioning, or even a landlord’s network infrastructure can provide a gateway to a remote attacker,” said Nick Morgan, information security manager at property investor Derwent London.
It’s clear that companies need to ramp up security measures since all IoT devices offer an entry point for hackers, according to William Newton, president of WiredScore.
Now is the time to invest into security testing, monitoring and new strategies, instead of waiting for an actual data breach to occur.
