What Is IoT Security? Benefits, Challenges & Best Practices

IoT security protects billions of connected devices from automated attacks. Learn essential threats, compliance frameworks, and practical controls to secure your device fleet.

What is IoT Security?

IoT security protects internet-connected devices that can't run traditional endpoint agents. This includes surveillance cameras, building automation systems, medical devices, industrial sensors, smart office equipment, and network infrastructure. According to NIST's Cybersecurity for IoT Program, IoT security encompasses standards, guidelines, and tools that improve security for IoT systems, connected products, and their deployment environments.

Most IoT devices lack the processing power for traditional endpoint protection, run stripped-down operating systems without security patches, and ship with default credentials that never get changed. These vulnerabilities make IoT devices prime targets for malware infections that traditional security tools can't detect or remediate.

Why Is IoT Security Important in Cybersecurity?

IoT devices create direct attack pathways into critical infrastructure that your security team can't monitor through traditional tools. The Government Accountability Office elevated IoT threats to national security priority status in 2024, citing attacks on critical infrastructure like municipal water systems as major national security challenges. When federal oversight agencies categorize IoT vulnerabilities as national security issues rather than technical problems, you're dealing with strategic risks requiring executive attention.

DHS explicitly states that IoT integration creates a national dependency on connected infrastructure across energy, water, transportation, and healthcare sectors. When attackers compromise your building management system, they're not just accessing HVAC controls. They're establishing persistence in your network with devices your security team doesn't monitor. Compromised IoT devices frequently become part of larger botnets used for coordinated attacks across the internet.

Understanding these infrastructure risks requires recognizing how IoT security operates on different principles than traditional endpoint protection.

How IoT Security Differs From Traditional Endpoint Security

Traditional endpoint security assumes you can install an agent that runs continuous monitoring, behavioral analysis, and autonomous response. IoT devices break every assumption in that model.

• Resource constraints eliminate agent-based protection. Your IP camera runs on firmware with 64MB of memory. You can't install a security agent that requires 500MB. ISACA research found that conventional security tools built for resource-rich IT environments fail to enforce policies on IoT devices with limited processing capabilities.
• Device diversity prevents standardization. You're protecting 15 different operating systems across surveillance cameras from three manufacturers, building automation controllers running proprietary firmware, medical devices with FDA-certified software stacks you can't modify, and network printers running stripped-down Linux variants. Each device category requires different security controls.
• Operational requirements prevent security updates. Your medical device can't be patched without recertification. Your industrial controller can't reboot during production shifts. Your building automation system runs software from 2012 because the vendor discontinued support. Traditional endpoint security assumes you patch vulnerabilities; IoT security assumes you can't.

Network segmentation and control become your only option when agent-based protection isn't possible. These network-level protections require multiple security components working together.

Core Components of IoT Security

Network-level security controls protect IoT devices through layered defense mechanisms. IoT security requires layered controls distributed across your entire environment because no single technology protects devices that can't protect themselves.

• Device discovery and fingerprinting identify what's actually connected to your network. Passive network monitoring captures device communications without requiring agent installation. Active scanning probes devices to identify running services, open ports, firmware versions, and known vulnerabilities.
• Network segmentation and access control isolate IoT devices from critical systems. You create separate VLANs for building automation, guest networks for visitor devices, and dedicated segments for medical equipment. Network access control enforces authentication requirements before devices communicate.
• Behavioral monitoring and anomaly detection establish normal device behavior patterns and alert on deviations. Your IP camera normally sends data to your NVR at predictable intervals. When it suddenly starts scanning port 23 across your network looking for other vulnerable devices, behavioral analysis flags the compromise.
• Vulnerability management and assessment track known CVEs affecting your IoT device inventory. You can't patch every vulnerability immediately, but you can prioritize remediation based on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog and adjust network controls to reduce exploitation risk.

• Threat intelligence integration correlates IoT device activity with known attack patterns. When the NSA publishes indicators of compromise for nation-state IoT botnet operations, you need systems that automatically check if your devices are exhibiting those behaviors.

These components work together in a coordinated security framework that discovers, monitors, and protects IoT infrastructure.

How IoT Security Works

IoT security combines automated discovery, network segmentation, and behavioral monitoring to protect devices that can't run endpoint agents.

IoT Device Discovery and Inventory Management

You can't secure devices you don't know exist. IoT device discovery combines multiple scanning techniques to build complete asset inventories without requiring software installation on target devices.

• Passive network monitoring analyzes existing traffic flows to identify connected devices. When a new surveillance camera appears on your network and starts communicating with your video management server, passive monitoring fingerprints the device based on communication patterns, MAC address manufacturer identification, and protocol behavior.
• Active scanning sends targeted probes to discover devices that don't generate regular traffic. Network sweeps identify open ports, running services, and device responses that reveal operating systems and firmware versions. This discovers the environmental sensor that only reports data once per hour, which passive monitoring might miss.
• Integration with existing infrastructure pulls device information from DHCP logs, switch port mappings, and wireless controller associations. When you combine passive monitoring, active scanning, and infrastructure data, you build complete inventories showing what devices exist, where they're located, and how they communicate.

Continuous discovery detects changes in real-time. When someone connects an unauthorized smart TV to your conference room network at 2 AM, you receive alerts within minutes rather than discovering it during your quarterly asset audit. Once you've identified all connected devices, you need controls to protect them from active threats.

IoT Security Controls and Monitoring

Network-level controls protect IoT devices that can't protect themselves. You're enforcing security at the infrastructure layer because device-level security doesn't exist.

• Network isolation and microsegmentation contain IoT device compromises. Your building automation system communicates with authorized management servers but can't initiate connections to your financial database. When attackers compromise a vulnerable IoT device, segmentation prevents lateral movement into critical systems.
• Behavioral analysis and watchlists monitor device activity for suspicious patterns. You establish baselines for normal behavior. For example, this medical device communicates only with specific hospital systems using defined protocols. When the device suddenly attempts outbound connections to external IP addresses, behavioral monitoring triggers alerts and automated response.
• Automated threat response and quarantine isolates compromised devices from network infrastructure. When you detect an IP camera participating in botnet command-and-control traffic, network-level quarantine blocks the device's communications without requiring you to physically disconnect equipment or modify device configurations.
• Configuration management and change tracking monitor device settings for unauthorized modifications. Integration with configuration management databases detects when someone changes device passwords, modifies network settings, or installs unauthorized firmware.

These security mechanisms deliver measurable operational and strategic advantages for security teams.

Key Benefits of IoT Security

Implementing IoT security delivers both immediate operational improvements and long-term strategic advantages:

1. Complete network visibility reveals your actual attack surface. You discover the 40 IP cameras connected to your network that IT didn't install, the personal smart speakers in employee offices, and the contractor's test equipment still connected six months after the project ended.
2. Reduced attack surface and lateral movement prevention contain threats at initial compromise points. According to peer-reviewed academic research analyzing Mirai botnet variants, attackers systematically scan networks for vulnerable IoT devices using chains of critical-severity CVEs (CVSS 9.8) or default credentials, then pivot to IT systems. The research documents specific CVEs including CVE-2021-36260 (Hikvision command injection), CVE-2017-17215 (Huawei router code execution), and CVE-2020-9054 (ZyXEL NAS OS command injection) as exploitation vectors in this progression. Network segmentation stops this progression by isolating compromised devices and preventing lateral movement to IT infrastructure where attackers can deploy ransomware or other payload attacks.
3. Regulatory compliance and risk management demonstrate due diligence for auditors and regulators. NIST SP 800-213 requires federal agencies to maintain IoT device inventories and apply Risk Management Framework controls. Documenting continuous IoT monitoring and control enforcement satisfies these compliance requirements. Sector-specific regulations add additional layers: FDA medical device cybersecurity requirements under Section 524B of the FD&C Act, PCI DSS for payment-enabled IoT devices, and HIPAA security requirements for healthcare IoT devices all establish compliance obligations beyond federal government procurement.
4. Faster incident detection and response identify compromises before they escalate. CISA threat assessments found that insufficient OT network segmentation, poor network access control implementation, and lack of sufficient logging and monitoring capabilities created vulnerabilities. These gaps allowed attackers to maintain persistent access to critical infrastructure organizations for extended periods. Real-time behavioral monitoring detects compromises within minutes instead of months.
5. Resource optimization for security teams eliminates manual device tracking across multiple locations. Automated discovery and continuous monitoring replace quarterly spreadsheet audits that are outdated the moment you complete them.

These benefits translate directly into reduced security incidents and more efficient security operations, but only when organizations avoid common implementation mistakes.

Here's the reformatted version with bulleted lists:

Common IoT Security Mistakes

Organizations fail at IoT security by treating unmanaged devices like traditional endpoints or implementing security as a one-time deployment. Here are a few common mistakes:

• Assuming device-level security exists: You can't rely on manufacturer security when academic research analyzing 11,329 IoT code examples found security weaknesses in 5.4% of published code snippets. The devices shipping to your loading dock contain exploitable vulnerabilities regardless of vendor security claims.
• Deploying IoT devices without network segmentation: CISA threat assessments documented non-privileged IT users accessing critical SCADA VLANs because organizations failed to implement proper network segmentation. Your compromised IP camera shouldn't communicate with industrial control systems.
• Ignoring end-of-life device vulnerabilities: Security researchers consistently detect active exploitation of discontinued surveillance devices with unpatched critical vulnerabilities. When vendors discontinue support for IoT products, organizations often continue operating these devices in production environments despite known CVEs that will never receive patches. Legacy cameras, routers, and network equipment remain active for years beyond their support lifecycle, creating persistent security gaps that attackers actively target.
• Failing to monitor IoT device behavior: You detect IoT compromises through behavioral anomalies, not signature-based detection. Your surveillance camera participating in DDoS attacks looks different from normal operation, but only if you're monitoring behavior patterns.
• Treating IoT security as a one-time project: New IoT devices connect to your network continuously. Employees bring personal devices, contractors install test equipment, and shadow IT deploys unauthorized smart office equipment. IoT security requires continuous discovery, not quarterly audits.

Even when organizations avoid these mistakes, fundamental limitations affect IoT security implementation.

Challenges and Limitations of IoT Security

IoT security faces inherent constraints from device diversity, operational requirements, and vendor practices outside your control. Five common challenges include:

1. Device diversity creates security control gaps: You're protecting medical devices that can't be modified without FDA recertification, industrial controllers running proprietary protocols, consumer devices with no security features, and legacy equipment from vendors that no longer exist. No single security approach works across all device categories.
2. Limited visibility into encrypted communications: When IoT devices encrypt traffic to external cloud services, network monitoring can't inspect payloads for command-and-control communications or data exfiltration. You see that traffic exists but not what it contains.
3. Operational requirements conflict with security best practices: Your manufacturing line runs 24/7 and can't shut down for security patches. Your hospital's medical devices require continuous operation. Your building automation system controls life safety systems that can't be disrupted. Security recommendations assume you can reboot devices and apply updates; operational reality says you can't.
4. Resource constraints limit security team capabilities: The GAO found that federal agencies delayed IoT security implementation due to limited resources and competing priorities like zero trust initiatives. When security teams lack staff and budget, IoT security competes with every other security priority.
5. Vendor security practices remain outside your control: You can implement network controls and monitoring, but you can't fix the hardcoded credentials in device firmware or force manufacturers to patch vulnerabilities in discontinued products. Many IoT devices remain vulnerable to zero-day exploits that vendors never address. IoT security requires compensating controls when vendor security fails.

Despite these limitations, specific implementation strategies deliver effective IoT protection within operational constraints.

IoT Security Best Practices

Effective IoT security implementation requires continuous monitoring, network-level controls, and integration with broader security operations.

• Implement continuous device discovery and inventory management: Deploy passive and active scanning that automatically identifies new devices within minutes of network connection. Integrate discovery data with configuration management databases to track authorized devices.
• Enforce network segmentation and microsegmentation: Create dedicated VLANs for IoT device categories with firewall rules restricting communications to authorized systems. Your surveillance cameras communicate only with video management servers, not with financial databases or industrial control systems.
• Deploy behavioral monitoring and anomaly detection: Establish normal communication patterns for each IoT device category and alert on deviations. When devices exhibit botnet behaviors: port scanning, external command-and-control traffic, participation in DDoS attacks, behavioral monitoring triggers automated detection and immediate response.
• Prioritize vulnerability remediation using authoritative sources: Focus patching efforts on CVEs listed in CISA's KEV catalog rather than attempting to remediate every theoretical vulnerability. The KEV catalog identifies vulnerabilities with confirmed active exploitation.
• Implement network-level access controls and authentication: Require devices to authenticate before accessing network resources. When devices can't support modern authentication, place them in highly restricted network segments with minimal access to other systems.
• Monitor configuration changes and unauthorized modifications: Track changes to device settings, firmware versions, and network configurations. Alert when devices deviate from approved configurations or when someone modifies security settings.
• Integrate IoT security with broader threat detection platforms: Feed IoT device data into XDR platforms that correlate device activity with endpoint, network, and cloud telemetry. IoT compromises often precede broader attacks; unified visibility enables detection of multi-stage campaigns.

These practices form the foundation for IoT protection, but implementation requires platforms designed specifically for unmanaged device security.

Secure IoT Devices With SentinelOne

IoT devices can't run endpoint agents, but attackers don't care about your deployment constraints. They exploit surveillance cameras, building automation systems, and medical devices to establish network persistence, then pivot to critical infrastructure. The SentinelOne Singularity Platform addresses this gap by extending visibility beyond traditional endpoints to every IP-enabled device on your network.

The platform combines passive monitoring and active scanning to identify IoT devices without requiring agent installation. The solution fingerprints devices, captures firmware versions, and builds complete asset inventories that reveal shadow IT deployments your security team never authorized. When new devices connect to your network, automated alerts flag unmanaged assets and security gaps in real-time.

Purple AI enables natural-language queries across your IoT inventory, translating questions like "Show me all cameras communicating with external IP addresses" into precise threat hunts. When behavioral analysis detects anomalies (an IP camera scanning your network for vulnerable devices or a building controller attempting unauthorized database connections), Storyline technology reconstructs the complete attack chain, showing exactly how the compromise progressed.

The Singularity Data Lake unifies IoT telemetry with endpoint, cloud, and identity data, enabling correlation of device compromises with broader attack campaigns. This integration with Singularity XDR gives SOC analysts complete visibility across every infrastructure layer where attacks propagate.

Request a demo with SentinelOne to see how autonomous protection secures IoT infrastructure that traditional endpoint security can't reach.

Key Takeaways

IoT security protects internet-connected devices that can't run traditional endpoint agents through network-level visibility, segmentation, and behavioral monitoring. Nation-state actors actively exploit IoT vulnerabilities to build global botnets, with FBI and NSA documentation confirming ongoing operations.

Compromised IoT devices serve as entry points for attacks on critical infrastructure, enabling lateral movement into SCADA systems and business networks. Continuous discovery and real-time monitoring detect unauthorized devices and compromises within minutes, stopping attackers before they can establish network persistence.

IoT Security FAQs

What is IoT Security?

IoT security protects internet-connected devices that can't run traditional endpoint protection: surveillance cameras, building automation systems, medical devices, and network infrastructure. It uses network-level visibility, segmentation, behavioral monitoring, and threat detection to secure devices that lack processing power or operational flexibility for agent-based security.

How does IoT Security Work?

IoT security combines passive monitoring and active scanning to discover devices without agent installation. Network segmentation isolates IoT devices from critical systems. Behavioral analysis detects anomalous activity like botnet participation. Network-level controls quarantine compromised devices and enforce access restrictions.

What Problem does IoT Security Solve?

IoT security addresses the gap between device proliferation and security capabilities. Devices ship with hardcoded credentials, run unpatched firmware, and can't be modified due to operational requirements or vendor limitations. IoT security provides network-level controls when device-level security isn't possible.

What is the Difference Between IoT Security and Endpoint Security?

Endpoint security installs agents on devices for continuous monitoring and autonomous response. IoT security protects devices that can't run agents due to resource constraints or operational requirements. IoT security relies on network-level visibility and control instead of device-level protection.

Does IoT Security Replace Network Security?

IoT security complements network security by adding specialized controls for devices that can't protect themselves. Network security provides infrastructure protection across all connected systems. IoT security extends that protection with device discovery, behavioral analysis, and microsegmentation specific to resource-constrained devices.

What are the main Types of IoT Security Threats?

Botnet recruitment through unpatched CVEs and default credentials converts devices into attack infrastructure. Command injection vulnerabilities enable remote code execution. Nation-state operations systematically build global IoT botnets documented by NSA and FBI joint advisories. Lateral movement uses compromised IoT devices as pivot points.

What are Common IoT Security Implementation Mistakes?

Deploying devices without network segmentation allows lateral movement. Using default credentials enables botnet recruitment; Mirai compromised 493,000 devices with factory passwords. Treating IoT security as a one-time project misses continuously connecting devices. Ignoring end-of-life vulnerabilities leaves critical CVEs unpatched.

How do you Secure Unmanaged IoT Devices?

Network-level controls secure devices you can't modify. Deploy continuous discovery to identify connected devices. Implement microsegmentation restricting communications to authorized systems. Enable behavioral monitoring for compromised device detection. Use network access control requiring authentication. Quarantine suspicious devices through network isolation.

What is the future of IoT Security in Cybersecurity?

IoT security integration with AI-powered security platforms enables automated threat correlation across device categories. Zero trust architectures will enforce continuous authentication for IoT devices. Regulatory frameworks including the EU Cyber Resilience Act mandate manufacturer security requirements. Post-quantum cryptography deployment will address IoT encryption vulnerabilities as quantum computing capabilities mature.