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Internet of threats

Chances are you've heard the latest buzz phrase Internet of things (IoT). But what is it and what does it mean for data security?


Johannesburg, 23 Mar 2018

Everything is connected

The Internet of things is basically billions of connections between billions of people and people, people and things, and things and things.

We're used to devices such as cellphones, tablets and laptops being connected to the Internet and sharing data. Now, thanks to relatively cheap wireless networks and processes, just about anything you can think of can connect and share data via sensors and APIs.

Take for example home appliances. While you're out shopping you could connect to your smart fridge via your cellphone to check whether you need to stock up on milk. The milk carton at home could even carry a sensor that sends an alert to your phone when it's close to its expiry date. Your coffee machine and toaster could be synced with your phone alarm so that it switches on the minute you wake up. Not sure if you closed the garage door? Simply control it from anywhere on the road via your car.

The potential connections are endless and go as far as watering your plants from your holiday destination to monitoring your pets' health through sensors on their collars.

Cyber security in the time of IOT

With countless devices, appliances, vehicles and general things connecting to the Internet and sharing data comes countless opportunities for hackers to attack. This holds vast implications for cyber security. If you're a business owner or manager, just think how many employees there are in your organisation. Now, imagine each and every one of them making multiple connections to a multitude of devices, vehicles, appliances and machines beyond your office walls. It's a scary thought and one that might have you asking: How do I protect my businesses in the face of rapidly advancing tech and threats?

First, ensure that your security systems are keeping up. You will be surprised to learn how many organisations are relying on outdated systems to protect their networks and data. Cyber security experts such as the team at Ukuvuma can help you formulate a watertight security strategy, analyse your current systems to help you pinpoint potential weak spots and replace outdated or unnecessary solutions.

There's also not a "one-size-fits-all" cyber security solution. You need threat hunting solutions that dig deeper and faster to find the growing number of threats that lurk out there in the vast IOT. Billions of endpoints mean unsurpassed endpoint protection is necessary, and you need data protection that reaches beyond the network cables in your office building. In other words, you need to fortify your network with different layers of security solutions for different kinds of threats.

Remember, people are your organisations' last line of defence. That's why it's important to educate your employees and encourage them to think twice before sharing data or connecting to remote devices or things. Ukuvuma trains staff so that they don't fall for the latest cyber scams and tricks. It also deploys its red team to simulate attacks to determine where the organisation's network is most vulnerable.

Get ready for the future

Ask yourself: Where are my security systems at their weakest? Are they up to date and ready for the future? If you don't know the answer to these questions, it's probably a good idea to call in the experts.

Call Ukuvuma on 086 101 7444 or e-mail security@ukuvuma.co.za for more details on cutting-edge cyber security solutions and services.

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Editorial contacts

Frans De Villiers
Dapper Strategies
(+27) 83 693 3820
frans@dapperstrategies.com