While there's a long way to go, the tech industry continues to coalesce around IoT security. In the latest instance, some of the biggest names in networking and security are forming a new alliance. Here are the key deals from AT&T's announcement:
AT&T, IBM, Nokia, Palo Alto Networks, Symantec and Trustonic are joining forces to innovate in the security space. They’ll use their combined expertise to help tackle today’s top Internet of Things (IoT) security challenges.
This IoT Cybersecurity Alliance combines industry-leading security providers and IoT experts. The group will research and raise awareness of ways to better secure the IoT ecosystem.
Alliance members believe the key to IoT security lies in protecting all devices at the endpoint, network, cloud and application layer, and using overarching threat analytics to study the overall ecosystem and designing products with a built- in, always-on security approach.
Last year, the industry was rocked by a number of high-profile DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks caused by IoT-exploiting botnets. The potential security threat posed by IoT is staggering, based on data from AT&T:
As the number and kinds of connected devices multiply, so have the security risks. In the past 3 years, AT&T has seen a 3,198% increase in attackers scanning for vulnerabilities in IoT devices.
The new cybersecurity alliance plans to collaborate on IoT security issues both in verticals and for common use cases, such as health care and connected cars. It will also work to educate the public on how to keep IoT secure, and lobby lawmakers to influence policy.
While the group's formation is a welcome step, exactly what it accomplishes and how quickly remains to be seen. Such vendor organizations are only as effective as their members' combined commitment and ability to deliver concrete and broadly useful material.
Constellation believes much more than industry consortia are needed to get the IoT security problem under control. Government policies, incentives for IoT device makers to voluntarily place greater emphasis on security when building products, and better consumer awareness of the risks involved are all crucial ingredients. That being said, the new cybersecurity alliance involves some of the biggest names in IoT, and that's a positive sign.
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