IoT Security in the 5G Era: Protecting the Connected World

Introduction
If there is one segment of the IT industry that has seen massive growth in the last decade, it has to be IoT or the Internet of Things. This refers to all the smart devices in your home or office, like your thermostat that can be controlled through your home device like Alexa or Google Assistant. Not only home, but IoT is seeing a great deployment in various industries be it energy, mining, manufacturing, oil and gas and agriculture. One estimate says that there are 12 billion IoT devices that are connected to the internet at the moment, and by 2025, this number is going to reach 75 billion!

But what is fuelling the rapid rise of IoT? There are many factors but the most prominent one is the emergence of the 5G network. 5G network is fast and can work with multiple devices connected to a single network very smoothly. Not only that it has low latency, low power consumption, increased battery life and more.

However, the rapid progress of IoT is not without its drawbacks. There are many potential security risks when you have many devices connected. All of these devices have among themselves a huge amount of personal data which can create havoc if it falls in the hands of unauthorized persons. This is more concerning when it is the personal data from IoT devices used in the home and for personal use, like smartwatches as they contain everything from your bank details to your medical records!

How does 5G impact IoT security concerns?

Just as the proliferation of 5G networks worldwide has given rise to more use of IoT devices, it has also brought in its own set of security issues. Here are some ways 5G impacts IoT security concerns.

• Insecure communications

5G is a much newer technology which means all its security vulnerabilities have not been found yet. Hence, when IoT devices are on 5G, new security breaches may occur through insecure communications. Though the 5G network encrypts data when in transit if that encryption is not implemented correctly, it opens up a doorway for hackers.

• Outdated Firmware

Since a 5G network can connect IoT devices faster and more efficiently with the internet and to each other if the firmware of one of the devices is not the latest update, it can become the weakest link. If unauthorized intrusion happens through such a device, it can quickly spread to other connected devices as 5G allows devices to communicate in real time thanks to its low latency.

• Weak authentication

We all know the importance of a strong password when connecting to anything online. However, many IoT devices have weak authentication or don’t require users to change passwords periodically. Hence with the speed of 5G, hackers can easily gain access to your network by breaking into your IoT devices with weak authentication.

• Physical security vulnerabilities

Many kinds of IoT are deployed in public places like surveillance cameras or in such places that can easily be accessed physically. And since they are connected to 5G, and 5G allows data processing locally, hackers can enter the network and access sensitive data.

• Unprotected APIs

Another vulnerability of IoT comes from APIs (Application programming interfaces) that are not properly protected and hence become the medium to monitor or control the IoT devices using them. 5G has made it easier for APIs to be developed for all kinds of platforms, and so increases the chance of such intrusions.

So, from the above, it is very clear that when it comes to IoT vulnerability due to 5G, it can happen on many levels. These levels are the perception level, the network level and the application level. Now, let’s look at the various security measures we can take to protect IoT in this 5G network era.

IoT security at the perception level

Perception level means the physical safety of an IoT device. It can be done through these methods:

1. Restricting access to the IoT devices by placing them in a controlled and secure place. It also means that only a select group of people will be authorised to work with them physically.
2. If the IoT is to be deployed in a public space, it should be installed in a very secure manner. This will prevent not only unauthorised access but also theft of the device.
3. The next level of restriction for the IoT device should be physical restrictions like seals, enclosures or any other physical barriers that will prevent unauthorised people from touching the device.
4. Keeping the IoT devices under surveillance is also another way to secure them at the perception level.
5. To prevent people from physically accessing the data points of the IoT like their cables and ports, make sure that those are also secure and protected.
6. At all times, whether it is personal or business, keep track of your IoT devices. You should know where they are physically and their status. This will alert you the moment one goes missing.
7. When IoT is being used professionally, all employees should be trained on how to handle IoT properly and the dangers of security breaches in an IoT device.
8. The IoT devices should come with remote lockdown or wipes. This will help you to stop people from gaining access to the data in the device as you can immediately lock it or wipe all data from it remotely if you know that it is missing.

Securing IoT for 5G at network level

This is the most important aspect of security for IoT in the 5G network. This is the layer where the security features of 5G can truly help IoT secure their data and prevent privacy data breaches. It has different sections depending on the various points where IoT accesses 5G.

• Network security protocols

This is the communication channel between IoT devices and 5G networks so there should be strong security protocols in place. It includes encryption, integrity verification and authentication for the protection of data while in transit.

• LAN security

A group of connected devices in a localised manner is called a Local Area Network. For the IoT device connected to a LAN, there should be firewalls, intrusion alerts, intrusion prevention, and any other security measure that can control and monitor traffic within this local environment.

• IoT Routers and Getaways

These two serve as the getaway between IoT and 5G and so should have the strongest security settings. It means the firmware of the hardware should be updated on time, the default credentials should be changed regularly and all secure communication protocols should be in place.

• Routing Security

By implementing a secure routing protocol, you can stop the threat of potential attacks on your IoT through a 5G network. Along with it, you will need regular auditing and monitoring of the routing infrastructure to detect any intrusion or anomaly at the right time.

• Data transit security

The next aspect of network-level security for IoT is when data is being transported between IoT devices through a 5G network. For that, you have to make sure you are using secure protocols like TLS/SSL to encrypt data thus ensuring its integrity and confidentiality during transit.

• Intrusion detection and prevention

Malicious activities or unusual patterns often mean intrusion by unauthorised persons in the 5G network targeting your IoT devices. So, to prevent that make sure they have intrusion detection and prevention systems in them.

• Network segmentation

An IoT network has different segments. If you implement network segmentation, you can limit malicious attacks to a specific segment and not let it affect your whole network.

• Authentication and access control

When it comes to accessing your network, there should be strict authentication in place for not only your IoT devices but all devices in the network. The best way to do so is by implementing multi-factor authentication.

Securing IoT in 5G network at application layer

Securing the application layer in a 5G IoT environment requires a comprehensive strategy addressing these vulnerabilities. Here are the vulnerabilities and how to mitigate them.

• Software Bugs

Vulnerabilities in coding or design may lead to unauthorized access or service disruption. To avoid that, you need to do regular software audits, code reviews, and prompt patching.

• Access Control

Inadequate access controls can result in unauthorized entry and potential data breaches. That can be stopped by implementing authentication and authorization mechanisms.

• Application Programming Interface (API) Issues

Insecure APIs can be exploited for unauthorized access or data manipulation. This is why you must ensure secure API communication through proper authentication, encryption, and regular security assessments.

• Denial-of-Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attacks

Denial-of-Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks are threats that can disrupt application layer services. Attackers overwhelm servers with traffic, making it hard for legitimate users to access them. IoT devices with insufficient security measures in place often become the weak point of a network for hackers to infiltrate. Thanks to 5G, more and more IoT devices are now in networks, making this a very concerning issue. Hence to effectively stop DoS and DDoS attacks, you must equip your IoT devices with such strategies, such as traffic filtering and load balancing, making it easier to maintain service availability.

Conclusion

IoT with a 5G network is the future that is here and will be marching ahead in the coming years. You cannot avoid it, so you need to make sure your IoT devices are ready to face the challenges that this new frontier brings in. By implementing security measures in every layer, you can truly unleash the potentiality of both 5G Network and IoT devices for your home or professional world.