Connected devices are everywhere in modern businesses.
Enterprises are deploying more IoT devices than ever before — from smart cameras to fleets of thermal imaging drones. But while these devices create unprecedented opportunities, they also expose organizations to catastrophic cybersecurity threats they aren’t prepared to handle.
Here’s the scary part:
The typical enterprise network supports 35,000 devices of 80 varieties these days. Give a hacker that much surface area to probe…
The good news?
These threats can be mitigated with a proper cybersecurity strategy in place. Here’s a comprehensive guide on exactly what enterprises need to know about securing IoT devices.
Here’s what’s inside:
- Why Connected Devices Are a Growing Risk
- The Thermal Imaging Drone Threat Landscape
- Key Cybersecurity Considerations
- Building A Stronger Device Security Culture
Why Connected Devices Are a Growing Enterprise Risk
Every connected device on a business network is a potential entry point for attackers.
That includes:
- Smart cameras
- HVAC sensors
- Access control systems
- Industrial equipment
- Thermal imaging drone platforms
The issue is straightforward. Most IoT devices come with insecure default configurations, rarely receive updates, and use protocols which are not parsed correctly by standard security solutions.
Attackers know this. And they take full advantage.
Latest industry figures show that attacks on IoT endpoints jumped 107% year-over-year, with attacks lasting over 52 hours each week on average. Consider how taxing 52+ hours of abuse can be for an IoT endpoint on your business network.
From there, hackers can roam around freely, steal sensitive information, or wreak havoc by shutting systems down. Plus, most organizations don’t know every device that’s connected to their network. So they often don’t discover a breach until months later.
The Thermal Imaging Drone Threat Landscape
Thermal imaging drone technology has exploded across enterprise use in the last few years.
Facility managers send them up for roof inspections. Security teams deploy them to monitor building perimeters. Utility companies fly them to detect equipment malfunctions before they result in power outages. The thermal imaging drone is fast becoming an indispensable tool for enterprises.
But here’s what most people don’t realise…
A thermal imaging drone is nothing more than an airborne computer with sensors, storage capabilities, and wireless communication abilities. This means it can be attacked just like any IoT device. Threat actors can:
- Intercept live thermal footage
- Steal GPS coordinates and metadata
- Hijack the control link mid-flight
- Inject malware through firmware updates
- Pull sensitive imagery from onboard storage
Trustworthiness of the drone provider matters greatly in this case scenario. Businesses operating sensitive facilities are starting to lean more towards Blue UAS American-made drones that have a trusted supply chain, encrypted communications, and approved components. A compromised thermal imaging drone meant to survey critical infrastructure can spill data directly into enemy hands.
Selecting a trusted, vetted platform is one of the easiest cybersecurity victories your business will ever achieve. It mitigates an entire category of risk before you even open the box.
Key Cybersecurity Considerations For Connected Devices
Every organization requires robust device security strategies. Here are your top areas of focus.
Vet The Supply Chain
Where a device comes from matters more than most people realise.
Cheap devices from unknown manufacturers often contain:
- Hard-coded backdoors
- Unencrypted communications
- Unpatched firmware
- Data pathways to overseas servers
- Unknown third-party components
Ask where the device was engineered, where parts came from and who else can see the data it collects before buying it. Apply special caution to cameras, drones and anything with sensors. Eliminating this step is one of the quickest ways to deliver an unknown risk to your network.
Segment The Network
Never let connected devices sit on the same network as sensitive systems.
Network segmentation creates a barrier from IoT devices to sensitive business data. If someone hacks a smart thermostat it shouldn’t give access to the finance server.
Simple steps to segment networks:
- Put IoT devices on their own VLAN
- Block unnecessary outbound traffic
- Monitor traffic between segments
- Use firewalls to enforce the rules
- Log everything for later analysis
This single mitigation prevents most lateral movement attacks. It also makes it much easier to detect that something has happened.
Keep Firmware Updated
Outdated firmware is the number one reason connected devices get hacked.
Vendors release patches for known vulnerabilities, but the majority of enterprises don’t apply them. Hackers understand this and they perpetually scan networks for legacy firmware. One unpatched device leaves the entire network exposed through its front door.
The fix?
Establish a firmware update cadence for each connected device. Designate someone to own the tracking and execution. It’s tedious work, but it stops the majority of attacks.
Encrypt All Communications
Every connected device should use strong encryption for data in transit and at rest.
That means:
- TLS or similar protocols for network traffic
- Encrypted storage on the device
- Secure key management
- Multi-factor authentication for admin access
Without encryption, traffic sniffing can allow hackers to steal sensitive data remotely, without ever having to physically access the device itself. Encryption also prevents access to information should the device become lost, stolen, or improperly decommissioned.
Control Access Tightly
Not every user needs access to every device.
Enterprise device management best practices start with least privilege. Ensure individuals only have access to the devices and data required for their roles. Revoke access as soon as employees depart from the company. Also, audit permissions regularly so outdated accounts don’t become backdoors.
Building A Stronger Device Security Culture
Technology alone can’t solve the connected device problem.
Employees should understand potential risks and recognize red flags. Routine cybersecurity training can ensure all employees understand it’s everyone’s responsibility, not just IT’s burden.
Basic training should cover:
- How to identify phishing attempts
- Why default passwords need changing
- What to do if a device acts strangely
- Reporting procedures for security incidents
- How to safely connect new devices
Companies with a robust security culture experience fewer security incidents. Employees become your first line of defence rather than the weakest link.
Locking It All Down
IoT devices aren’t going away. Thermal drone deployments, smart building sensors…they’ll only play a bigger role in enterprise operations as time goes on.
The problem is each new device creates new risk. It’s no longer just about keeping data secure. There are more platforms, deployed at a much faster rate which dramatically increases risk. Verizon recently reported one in three breaches now involves an IoT device and that number is growing exponentially.
To avoid becoming tomorrow’s headline, take cybersecurity seriously today. Vet your supply chain. Segment your network. Patch your firmware. Encrypt everything. Educate your team.
Do this and IoT devices become your business ally. Skip it and they’re your business’s weakest link.
