See the Network, Protect the Network
Published: April 9, 2019
Are you confident in your network security? I ask because according to a study, 9 out of 10 IT professionals are not. By now, we all know IoT security is an all in proposition, but what does that mean? Let’s unpack a far too common IoT security shortfall.
The lack of network visibility leaves too many firms vulnerable. The unlimited data horizon offers unparalleled insight to network operations – especially with enhanced network visibility. The visibility to actually see what’s happening on the network. Who is accessing what, from where, and which devices are connected? Transparency across networks paired with a significant data resource enables proactive action when diagnosing an issue or attack, and mitigates risk.
The abovementioned study noted 7 out of 10 companies employing IoT devices were well aware of attempted and successful attacks. That leaves 30% in the dark. The 2020 SANS Network Visibility and Threat Detection Survey states 38% of respondents with high or very high level of confidence in their ability to discover all of the devices connecting to their IoT networks. Remember, no visibility means no response.
Speaking of devices: Do you recall the 2016 Mirai IoT botnet malware DDoS spree? That started with improperly secured IoT devices.
Put frankly, network visibility enables security and analytics to protect your IoT deployment from the more frequent, organized, and sophisticated attacks of today. Every enterprise and service provider around the globe must turn to a scalable network visibility solution to gain pervasive visibility and real-time insights.
Sun-Tzu once said, “If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; ... if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.” While the battlefield looks very different, winning the cyber security war requires the same perspective.
If you can’t see into the IoT network, you can’t protect it. Per the GSMA Intelligence’s Enterprise in Focus survey, 85% of all enterprises have changed their security practices as a result of their IoT deployments. Of those, 61% stated the reason “To establish a ‘security first” strategy as my company’s unique selling point.”
Every network is only as strong as its weakest link, network visibility empowers IT to forge stronger IoT network security by shoring up deficiencies and taking appropriate preventative steps to minimize risk.