10 Basic Steps to Follow to Secure IoT Devices

10 Fundamental Measures for Ensuring Security in the IoT Ecosystem

10 Fundamental Measures for Ensuring Security in the IoT Ecosystem

IoT is a buzzword in the market today. Still, most IoT devices are insecure.

Most basic issues are still found on IoT devices. Some of the basic security issues include the use of weak passwords, unattended devices, bad configurations, etc.

This article covers the 10 Basic Steps to follow to secure IoT Devices by the common user of IoT.

Click Here to know the Top 15 Nmap Commands to know the open ports of the network.

Sr. No.	Things to do
1.	Never set easy passwords on IoT Devices and change them regularly. Password strength must follow best practices associated with password complexity. Remembering complex passwords can be challenging for humans, but it is still the best solution to reduce security risks.
2.	Always purchase IoT devices from reputable vendors. Avoid cheap IoT products from the market. Cheap IoT devices may not follow best practices in developing the product. Hence it is advisable to purchase IoT devices from vendors who have a good track record in security.
3.	Try not to use IoT devices on the public internet. An attacker may intercept your requests and extract sensitive data if the channel is not encrypted. At least never performs a transaction that involves an exchange of sensitive data that includes authentication.
4.	It is crucial to change the default password during the first authentication to protect devices from malicious individuals. This is a simple yet essential step in ensuring security.
5.	Always update IoT devices for the latest versions. The most obvious but very effective method to enhance the security of IoT devices.
6.	Try to provide minimum personal information to IoT devices. You don't know when those details may be public if some leaks happen.
7.	If wireless interfaces such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc. are not needed, they should be switched off automatically.
8.	If IoT devices do not transmit data via using encrypted channels, enable it if available.
9.	Configure best practices guidelines for the IoT Devices. Follow guidelines released by the vendor to set up the device.
10.	Must know all IoT devices connected to your mobile devices. Map those devices and regularly monitor configurations of those devices.

Conclusion

User awareness is a great tool for securing the whole ecosystem of IoT devices. If a user follows basic security hygiene that includes a strong password and regular updates, one study found that 99 percent of hacking events may be avoided.