US Homeland Security wants heavy-duty IoT protection

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

http://www.networkworld.com/article/3014438/security/us-homeland-security-wants-heavy-duty-iot-protection.html

By Michael Cooney
LAYER 8
Network World
Dec 11, 2015

The diversity and capabilities as well as a lack of security found in the 
multitude of devices in the Internet of Things world is making people at 
the US Department of Homeland Security more than a little concerned.

This week it put out a call for “novel ideas and technologies to improve 
situational awareness and security measures for protecting IoT domains, as 
well as technologies that will help DHS operational and support components 
gain comprehensive and near continuous knowledge of IoT components and 
systems that affect their operations and assets.”

By using the Internet and its various connection mediums (e.g., Bluetooth, 
Wi-Fi, serial interface, wireless), any IoT system can be connected to any 
other device on the Internet. This level of connectivity opens tremendous 
opportunities for the capabilities of IoT-based systems, but also allows 
every node, device, data source, communication link, controller and data 
repository attached to IoT to serve as a security threat and be exposed to 
security threats. Therefore, any IoT system’s security is limited to the 
security level of its least secure component, the DHS stated.

IoT security efforts are further complicated by IoT’s convergence of 
physical components and the virtual information flows and connections of 
IoT. Therefore, DHS stated, in addition to the typical vulnerabilities of 
IT systems, IoT enabled systems create additional security concerns 
because IoT domains are:autonomous and control other autonomous systems; 
highly mobile and/or widely distributed; and are vulnerable to physical 
and virtual threats.

[...]

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