EXPERT SPEAK
3. Manufacturing: 82 per cent
have suffered an IoT-related
security breach
The industrial sector understands the need
for systems, processes and machines to
remain interconnected. For this to happen,
manufacturers must interconnect and
automate services where they can, but right
now this could be done more securely. Of
those who have already suffered an IoT-
related security breach, 50 per cent were
malware related and 40 per cent were due
to human error.
This is a gap that needs closing,
particularly as manufacturers look
to connect devices such as chemical
sensors and picking systems to reduce
operational risk and maintain operating
infrastructures.
Jose Vasco, Regional Director, MEMA at Aruba,
a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company.
tracking and remote control of devices.
Knowing the location of medical devices
is a huge benefit to patient well-being, but
security fears cast a big shadow. Nearly
half (49 per cent) of healthcare companies
reported malware issues on their devices,
and 39 per cent reported that human error
led to an IoT-related security breach.
2. Government: 85 per cent
have suffered an IoT-related
security breach
When adding new elements to a city
infrastructure, governments must balance
old and new technology. In the case of
IoT, it’s about balancing legacy tech with
a secure network to create the smart
city, and 49 per cent of government
workers find this a particular challenge.
Governments are further behind in their
adoption of IoT than some industries;
35 per cent of IT decision-makers within
government roles claim that leadership has
little or no understanding of IoT.
This lack of understanding, with
limitations of legacy technology within
cities and security risks associated with
IoT implementation are presenting a huge
challenge to the wider development of the
smart city.
4. Retail: 76 per cent have
suffered an IoT-related
security breach
Over half (56 per cent) of retailers who
have implemented IoT in their stores are
allowing personal mobile devices to access
the network to enhance the customer
experience. Getting in-store promotional
messages, based on location, is huge
business and IoT can enable that.
But taking into account the 41 per cent
of retailers who have already suffered from
an IoT-related attack because of malware
Across all of
these industries,
it’s clear that
companies
need more
information
about the
devices
connecting to
their network.
Of those who
have already
suffered an IoT-
related security
breach, 50
per cent were
malware related
and 40 per cent
were due to
human error.
issues, it’s clear they need to find middle
ground between consumer benefits and
protecting their network from attack.
Total network visibility
Across all of these industries, it’s clear that
companies need more information about
the devices connecting to their network.
Network managers require the ability to
create policies/permissions around each of
them, so that if a device is compromised by
malware or human error, it can be identified
and removed from the wider network.
When I am speaking with customers,
no matter what industry, I’m hearing the
same thing. Everyone wants to be fully
customised in terms of how they approach
the network, while staying secure.
To get there, the network must be
totally visible. When analysed and
accessed, the information gathered should
give you the opportunity to be more
granular in pinpointing and securing
devices with different levels of threat,
while granting different levels of access to
different users.
IoT within business is already
happening and the growth of its use across
all industries is inevitable. Businesses
shouldn’t let security threats be the
barrier between a market leading or non-
competing company, particularly as there
are existing solutions to turn IoT into
opportunity, not threat.
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