The Internet of Things (IoT) continues to gain a strong footing in the GCC across different sectors ranging from manufacturing and transportation to energy, said a report released yesterday.
The vulnerability of IoT to external cyber threats remains high – in fact even higher than traditional IT - a recent Booz Allen Hamilton report has highlighted.
The Booz Allen Hamilton IoT Field Guide also stated that industries are moving to IoT at a pace that is far greater than the ability to secure it. Traditional IT systems are generally self-contained and easy to protect. IoT, on the other hand, connects systems with tens of thousands of sensors and other devices around the world, resulting in a much higher variety and volume of potential threat.
According to Kaspersky Labs, Qatar has experienced the most cyber threats in the GCC during the first three months of 2017 where 29.7 percent of Internet users were affected by online threats while 49.8 percent of computer users were affected by local threats (malware spread via local networks, USBs, CDs, DVDs, and other offline methods).
Companies can probably save money by building IoT systems with less-than-secure parts and materials. But if they get hacked, the financial cost of reputational harm – including lawsuits, or regulatory penalties - could make it much worse for them.
If organisations are to succeed with IoT – security has to be deeply embedded in their DNA. This involves a close, careful, and systematic examination of all potential weak points.
Notably, Qatar is gearing up to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Organisers are exploring IoT solutions like stadium mobile applications to help visitors navigate the event. It is therefore becoming increasingly essential to ensure that smart solutions are integrated and necessary cybersecurity frameworks are in place.
Dr Raymond Khoury (pictured), Executive Vice President and Digital Practice Lead at Booz Allen Hamilton, Mena region, said: “IoT is fast becoming a part of every industry and nearly every aspect of our everyday lives – from connected cars and smart buildings, to intelligent homes and even medical devices like pacemakers and insulin pumps. “It is imperative that organizations visualise and understand the complex interconnections and intricacies of IoT to help identify where potential weaknesses and vulnerabilities lie so that adequate security efforts can be implemented in time. They need to understand that security cannot be an afterthought – it has to be part of everything you do with IoT.”
Booz Allen Hamilton has identified that organizations with the best IoT security are proactive –they use real-time threat-assessment data and the latest advances in analytics to spot hidden IoT attacks.
The IoT Field Guide includes a ‘Resource Prioritization Model’ that can help organizations mitigate and contain any risks.
The model contains three elements – the technical risk assessment, the potential impact of an attack on the business, and mitigation strategies. The comprehensive model ultimately empowers an organization’s leaders and stakeholders to make effective IoT security investment decisions.
