Survey reveals 48% of companies still cannot detect breaches on IoT devices

Gemalto, a multinational digital security company, revealed in a survey that almost half (48%) of companies cannot detect if a breach occurs in any of their IoT devices. This happens even as companies focus the majority of their attention on the security of these devices. The survey shows that spending on protection has increased (from 11% of the IoT budget in 2017 to 13% now at the beginning of 2019); nearly all (90%) believe it is a major consideration for customers; and the number of respondents who believe IoT security is an ethical responsibility has tripled (14%) compared to the previous year (4%). Interviewing 950 IT and business decision-makers worldwide, Gemalto found that companies are calling for government intervention, with 79% requesting more robust guidelines for IoT security and 59% seeking clarity on who is responsible for protecting this environment. Despite the fact that many governments have already approved or announced the introduction of specific IoT security regulations, the majority (95%) of companies believe there should be uniform regulations in place, a finding echoed among customers, 95% of whom expect Internet of Things devices to be governed by security regulations. "Given the increase in the number of IoT-enabled devices, it is extremely concerning to see that companies still cannot detect if these devices have been breached," said Jason Hart, director of technology for Data Protection at Gemalto. "Without any consistent regulations guiding the industry, it is no surprise that threats – and, in turn, the vulnerability of companies – are increasing. This is likely to continue unless governments intervene now to help the industry avoid losing control." The research also points out that blockchain adoption has doubled from 9% to 19% in the last 12 months. Additionally, a quarter (23%) of respondents believe that blockchain technology would be the ideal solution for protecting IoT devices, with 91% of companies not currently using the technology likely considering its use in the future. Source: Computer World  

Frequently asked questions

What did Gemalto's survey find about detecting breaches on IoT devices?

Gemalto, a multinational digital security company, found that almost half (48%) of companies cannot detect if any of their IoT devices has been breached, even though most of their security attention is focused on these devices. The survey interviewed 950 IT and business decision-makers worldwide.

Why are companies calling for government intervention on IoT security?

According to the survey, 79% of companies are asking for more robust IoT security guidelines and 59% want clarity on who is responsible for protecting this environment. In addition, 95% of companies and 95% of customers believe uniform regulations should govern Internet of Things devices.

How is blockchain being considered as a way to protect IoT devices?

Blockchain adoption among surveyed companies doubled, rising from 9% to 19% in 12 months, and 23% of respondents believe the technology would be the ideal solution for protecting IoT devices. Among companies not yet using blockchain, 91% say they are likely to consider adopting it in the future.