Question

Since IoTs are difficult, or just about impossible, depending on installed location, to secure, what does it mean when many providers are offering end-to-end IoT data protection?

Answer 1

End-to-End (E2E) Internet of Things (IoT) data protection being offered by many providers basically means, strong security provided to protect data, devices, components, resources in the cloud, and the application, making sure Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA), accessibility, privacy, and even anonymity are provided at all time.

Technically, it could be, for example, E2E encryption- encryption of data both, at rest and in transit. Many providers not only provide E2E IoT data protection, but also, IoT ecosystems E2E security, and its management. It simply provided E2E for connected devices. It is about protecting all the things- hardware, software, network, physical, virtual, and abstract. There are tools available provided by these providers to manage mobile and endpoint devices, and protect data. This E2E IoT data protection manages distributed IoT devices and gateways connected together with added security. This results in a secure IoT infrastructure, or even strongly.

As there are vulnerable IoT devices hackers could exploit and attack to spy on users, privacy is also affected along with other security factors. Hence, there is a need for seamless security. Hence providers apply an E2E approach to security design securing devices from the second they are first connected to the Internet. It is about security mechanisms applied to all the connected things, throughout their lifespan, and for every action of theirs, or otherwise.

E2E approach is the start-to-finish approach to security design securing all communication from the initial source to the end destination with the use of relevant security protocols getting rid of all potential and possibilities for any and all third parties intrusions. Hence, security is required to be built wherever applicable and should be enhanced through additional layers of security to make it stronger protecting communications upon initial establishment. E2E IoT data protection approach for security solves common problems faced in the IoT platform and space such as tampering of data, snooping, and device take-over attacks (stealing), hijacking of the network and devices), mostly observed in patchy security environments. Hence, E2E IoT data protection is required to fight against the fastly changing and growing threats to IoT systems.

This approach starts with an E2E IoT security architecture, involving security policy and compliance management, identity management, threat intelligence, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) detection and prevention, GDPR compliance for the privacy of users' and their data; security specifically for devices, cloud, and apps or applications. This approach extends security mechanisms touching all the things mentioned above seamlessly and full integration. Technically, it includes, Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) security, chip-level security with encryption preventing spoofing, cloud security which includes computer and network security protocols and measures, and application security during the software development process.