How to Secure IoT Devices: 12 Effective Strategies to Implement

Many modern businesses use Internet of Things (IoT) devices to control HVAC systems, manage building security, monitor equipment performance, and even automate energy usage.

Although these gadgets improve efficiency and real-time communication, they also open new ways for attackers to gain access to your IT network. If left unchecked, many IoT devices can expose sensitive data, affect daily operations, and lead to downtime.

IT teams should manage and protect IoT devices against known vulnerabilities to ensure smooth and compliant operations.

In today's article, we will show you how to secure IoT devices. But first, we'll discuss the potential vulnerabilities of IoT devices and the reasons why you need robust security strategies.

Understanding IoT Device Vulnerabilities

Unlike traditional endpoints such as laptops or servers, most IoT devices, such as smart TVs and smart lights, come with limited built-in security features. These internet-connected IoT devices are usually designed for performance and not security.

To make things worse, many end users fail to change default passwords, leaving IoT devices open to cyberattacks right out of the box. These security risks create easy access points for cybercriminals looking to exploit enterprise networks.

Common Threats to IoT Devices

Below are the common threats that IoT gadgets face:

• Unauthorized remote access: Attackers often exploit open ports or default credentials to remotely control IoT smart devices without permission. This can lead to unauthorized surveillance, data theft, or network security breaches.
• Device hijacking and malicious reprogramming: Hackers can take full control of an IoT gadget and change how it behaves. This may disrupt operations or turn the device into a tool for launching more attacks into the same network.
• Firmware exploitation: Many IoT devices use unpatched or outdated firmware, which cybercriminals exploit to install malware or bypass security controls.
• Ransomware: Similar to computer assets, IoT endpoints can be affected by ransomware. Attackers may demand payment to restore access or stop disruption.
• Man-in-the-middle attacks: When IoT devices send unencrypted data to another endpoint, attackers can intercept and alter the information as it travels across the network without either device knowing.
• Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks: IoT devices can be overwhelmed by malicious traffic, rendering them useless. In some cases, they may be used to carry out distributed DoS attacks against other network-connected devices.
• Brute force: Without a strong and unique password, IoT endpoints are easy targets for brute force attacks. These refer to hacking strategies that test thousands of combinations to guess passwords.
• Radiofrequency jamming: Wireless IoT devices, such as security cameras and wearables, can be disrupted by jamming their communication signals. These cause them to stop functioning or lose connection to the home network.
• Data interception: IoT devices often transmit sensitive information. Without encryption, cybercriminals can intercept confidential data, leading to privacy and compliance risks.

Why Do You Need to Secure IoT Devices?

After understanding IoT security challenges, it's time to focus on why securing these endpoints should be a priority.

Protect Critical Systems and Sensitive Data

Many IoT devices collect and transmit sensitive business information. If these devices are compromised, attackers can reach internal systems or databases. Weak security measures lead to data breaches or full-blown network attacks.

On the other hand, strict security protocols can protect sensitive data by reducing the attack surface. The simple act of applying software updates and security patches can significantly minimize vulnerabilities.

They make sure sensitive information can remain confidential and IT operations run smoothly.

Maintain Business Continuity

Unsecured IoT devices can cause serious disruption. A single infected device can shut down automated tools or take an entire IoT environment offline. Cyber threats that target these endpoints lead to lost time, revenue, and trust.

You should secure IoT devices to reduce downtime and maintain business continuity. Consider setting strict access controls, implementing regular firmware updates, and monitoring outgoing traffic.

Isolate IoT devices that are already under attack to minimize the impact on your IT environment.

Reduce the Risk of Compliance Violations and Fines

Many IoT systems process personal data or sensitive business information. Regulatory frameworks like SOC 2, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS apply to smart devices that transmit this crucial data.

If your IoT endpoints lack proper security, you are at an increased risk of non-compliance. You may end up paying large fines or face legal action, which could damage your reputation in the industry.

To prevent these consequences, you should enable encryption, monitor device behavior proactively, and maintain detailed records of every user activity.

Strengthen Your Organization’s Cybersecurity Posture

IoT devices are often the weakest point in a business network. Attackers know this and target smart devices to gain access to sensitive company data.

By managing IoT devices remotely and implementing strict security protocols, you can stay ahead of issues and fix them before they impact operations. This can significantly enhance security across the board.

12 Effective Strategies to Secure IoT Devices

Here are 12 proven methods to secure IoT devices against cyber threats and other known vulnerabilities.

1. Use Strong Passwords

Most IoT attacks begin with a default username and password. Always change these credentials when setting up a new device.

Create strong passwords with a length of 12 to 16 characters to make them difficult to guess. Combine letters with numbers and symbols to enhance security against hacking attempts and brute force attacks.

Avoid reusing passwords across IoT gadgets. Consider using password managers to store and manage credentials securely, especially if you have other devices.

2. Implement Strict Authentication Methods

IoT devices often suffer from poor authentication setups. These security flaws leave endpoints open to unauthorized access, making them an easy entry point for attackers.

To solve this, you can enforce strict authentication across all devices and systems. Use two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA), which requires users to submit another verification factor besides a password.

These prevent unauthorized users from logging in even if they steal passwords.

3. Create a Detailed Asset Inventory

Many organizations have IoT devices connected to their network without even knowing it. This lack of visibility increases security risks and makes incident response difficult.

Creating a complete IT asset inventory makes it easier to manage and secure IoT devices.

List each endpoint’s model, location, firmware version, IP address, and assigned owner. You should also include metadata such as last update, patch status, and known vulnerabilities. This level of detail allows your IT teams to identify which devices may be exposed and prioritize remediation.

Better yet, use a network monitoring tool to automate IoT device discovery and detect anomalies. This helps you close security gaps in your IT environment.

4. Segment IoT Devices on a Separate Network

Not all IoT gadgets need access to your main enterprise systems. A compromised IoT device can act as a bridge for attackers to reach sensitive areas of your network.

Network segmentation is an effective way to contain cyber threats and reduce the risk of lateral movement. Set up IoT devices on their own subnet or VLAN, separate from your business-critical systems. This creates a security boundary and limits the damage if an attack occurs.

You can also apply firewall rules to restrict what each segment can access. For added protection, monitor traffic between segments and flag anything abnormal.

By isolating devices based on function and risk level, you can apply more tailored security controls and better manage risk exposure.

5. Encrypt IoT Connections

Unencrypted network traffic between IoT devices and central systems is a serious vulnerability. Attackers can intercept this traffic, read it, or even modify it before it reaches its destination.

To stop this, use secure protocols like HTTPS, SSL, or TLS for all device communications. You should also encrypt the actual data to be transferred using AES or DES.

Encryption protects data in transit and prevents man-in-the-middle attacks and data interception threats.

6. Patch and Update IoT Gadgets

Many IoT devices remain unpatched, making them vulnerable to cyber threats. It's important to apply firmware and software updates as soon as they’re available.

You can use patch management software to automatically scan your network for missing updates and deploy them.

Some tools, like Level, can also patch third-party apps to enhance your company's security posture. They can even test patches before deploying them into your IT environment to ensure they are stable and bug-free.

In cases where updates are not supported, consider virtual patching, such as firewall rules or intrusion detection systems, that block known exploits.

7. Monitor IoT Devices Proactively

Continuous monitoring helps detect unusual behavior before it becomes a major problem.

Invest in remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools to track device health, login attempts, and resource usage for each IoT device without needing physical access.

You can also receive real-time alerts from this type of IT management software. Thanks to live notifications, you can respond faster, limit damage, and reduce downtime. Without visibility, even minor issues can escalate quickly and affect other parts of your IT infrastructure.

8. Enforce Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Not every employee or system needs full access to IoT devices. You can use role-based access controls to assign the necessary permissions based on a user's role.

For example, a technician may need access to device settings, while a manager may only need status reports. This limits the damage if credentials are stolen or misused.

RBAC also helps with cybersecurity compliance by enforcing the principle of least privilege. This means users only get the minimum level of access necessary to perform their assigned tasks.

9. Document and Log Device Activities

Every action involving an IoT device, such as logins, updates, and configuration changes, should be recorded. Complete documentation can provide important evidence when investigating security incidents or auditing compliance.

Store logs in a central location, ideally integrated with your RMM business solution and SIEM (security information and event management) platform. These can prove your compliance and simplify maintenance tasks by providing a clear change history.

10. Conduct Security Audits

Regular audits help identify security flaws that may go unnoticed during daily operations. These checks should review device configurations, firmware versions, network access controls, and update status.

Use both automated scans and manual testing for full coverage. Include third-party devices in the scope, especially those connected through APIs.

You can also conduct internal security audits to provide a clear picture of compliance gaps. Or partner with a managed service provider (MSP) who will perform third-party audits and uncover findings that you might have missed.

11. Automate Routine Tasks

Managing IoT devices manually is slow and error-prone, especially as the number of endpoints grows.

Automation helps standardize actions like patch deployment, device discovery, password updates, and monitoring alerts.

Use centralized remote management tools to apply settings and push updates in bulk. This reduces manual workload and allows for faster response to threats. Plus, it improves consistency by enforcing security measures across all devices.

12. Train IT Teams

Security tools are only as good as the people managing them. Regular training keeps your IT team up to date on the latest threats, tools, and best practices for IoT security.

Cover topics like patching procedures, proper device onboarding, and secure network design. Include drills or tabletop exercises to simulate attacks and test response plans. You should also encourage staff to report unusual behavior by implementing a help desk and ticketing platform.

Having a well-trained team will spot issues sooner and apply security measures more confidently across all environments.

Automate IoT Management and Security With Level

Level offers a modern RMM platform that can automate remote monitoring and patch management across IoT devices.

With Level, IT teams can proactively monitor performance, receive instant alerts for any anomalies, and deploy updates seamlessly across all endpoints.

Level is also built to be secure from the ground up, complying with SOC 2 and GDPR standards. It can enforce strict safeguards to keep your IoT devices and data safe against security threats.

Book a demo to see Level in action today or sign up for a free trial right now.

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FAQs About How to Secure IoT Devices

What are the three types of IoT security?

The three main types of IoT security are device security, network security, and data security. Device security focuses on protecting the hardware and firmware, while network security prevents unauthorized access and data interception. Data security ensures that all information collected, stored, or transmitted is encrypted and protected from leaks.

How can I improve my IoT security?

Start by changing default credentials and using strong passwords. Apply firmware updates regularly and use multi-factor authentication for device access. Segment your IoT devices on a separate network and encrypt all communications. Regular monitoring and audits also help detect threats early and improve your company's security posture.

How to set up a secure IoT network?

Place IoT devices on a separate VLAN or subnet away from your core systems. Enable firewalls and restrict traffic to only what’s needed. You can also use strong encryption protocols for communication. Lastly, monitor all device activity and set up alerts for abnormal behavior.