IoT Security & Physical Safety

Today, we rely on IoT devices more than ever. In a world increasingly connected by devices, it’s extremely convenient to use an IoT device for every purpose imaginable. They’re not only limited to different industry uses — they’ve found their way into our homes and become a standard part of our lives.

One type of IoT device we frequently use is those that provide physical security and safety. Often called part of the cyber-physical IoT system, these devices bridge the gap between the cyber and physical space. However, in these cases, IoT security becomes a serious issue because cybercriminals can jeopardize human lives by overriding the cybersecurity systems of these devices. Let’s have a closer look at IoT security and physical safety:

Physical safety IoT devices include systems like surveillance cameras, door locks, smart safes, fire alarm systems, access control systems, and similar devices mostly used to secure a location or prevent a hazard. They make up a significant portion of today’s 20 billion connected devices and will continue to be widely used as the number of IoT devices is expected to reach 31 billion by next year.

There’s no denying that these devices are essential in ensuring the physical safety of people who use them. However, they do have a fatal flaw — their cybersecurity, which makes them vulnerable to criminals partnering with hackers. For example, they don’t need to come up with a way to pass by the surveillance cameras unnoticed — all they have to do is disable the system.

Most of these devices have unfortunately been proven to be easy attack targets for cybercriminals. Security cameras are the most prominently attacked IoT physical safety devices, as even the most rudimentary attacks can disable them and jeopardize the entire safety system.

This is a consequence of a lack of cybersecurity regulations and the state of the market, allowing the sale of devices that can be easily exploited. If we consider the importance of the role these devices play, it should be paramount to make sure that they can’t enter the market unless their cybersecurity status is satisfactory. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

One of the main steps in securing all IoT devices, and not just the physical safety ones, lies in implementing proper cybersecurity regulation and compliance with a unified cybersecurity standard. However, there are still some solutions that would specifically benefit physical safety IoT devices, which can also be explored alongside the more standard ones.

For example, the use of honeypot solutions can help fool the attackers and lure them away from the actual physical safety systems of devices that they are trying to attack. Furthermore, it would also be beneficial to think in terms of real-time security alerts and proactiveness when dealing with cybersecurity threats to ensure the security of physical safety IoT devices.

It is expected for IoT devices to have certain vulnerabilities, but those devices that ensure our physical safety should not be subject to the whims of cybercriminals. To avoid loss of life or a decrease in safety caused by even the simplest cyberattacks, we must ensure that these devices are secure by design with a substantial or high level of security assurance taking into account the risks due to the intended use.