The Biggest IoT Security Mistakes—And How to Fix Them

Hello readers,

Welcome to the IoT For All newsletter! This week we’re talking about the dos and don’ts of IoT security, multi-IMSI SIMs and more!

The Biggest IoT Security Mistakes—And How to Fix Them

Now that IoT is mission-critical across industries, it means the cost of getting security wrong keeps climbing. One in three breaches now involves an IoT device, and breach costs trend higher when IoT is in the mix. At the same time, the IoT security market is projected to triple by 2030, proof that businesses are investing to close the gap.

1. Default and weak credentials

The easiest way in is still the most common: factory logins like “admin/admin,” weak passwords, and hard-coded backdoors. Attacks scale because bots constantly scan the internet for devices left on defaults. This is exactly how Mirai roped cameras and routers into a record DDoS. Fix it by enforcing immediate credential rotation on deployment, mandating strong, unique passwords, and layering multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever admin access exists.

2. Infrequent and insecure firmware management

Unpatched firmware turns known CVEs into open doors, and many fleets still run on “fire-and-forget” updates. This drives malware/ransomware risk and costly downtime. Move to a lifecycle approach: over-the-air (OTA) updates for scale, cryptographically signed releases verified on-device, and secure boot to anchor integrity from power-on. These controls cut exposure without rolling trucks (https://www.iotforall.com/over-the-air-firmware-updates-in-iot).

3. Flat networks with no segmentation

When cameras, PLCs, and laptops share the same flat network, one compromised sensor becomes a beachhead for lateral movement. Segmentation and microsegmentation contain the blast radius and have been shown to reduce breach costs materially. Pair VLANs/firewalls with a Zero Trust model: verify every device/user, enforce least privilege, and treat each connection as hostile until proven otherwise.

4. Unencrypted data in transit and at rest

Unsecured telemetry and config stores invite eavesdropping, tampering, and privacy violations and are still far too common in IoT communications. Encrypt everywhere: TLS for device-cloud links (ideally mutual TLS with device and server certs), plus disk/file-level encryption on endpoints. Use managed certificate provisioning/rotation to keep keys fresh at fleet scale.

5. No security-by-design (and weak governance).

Rushing to ship cheap hardware without secure storage, patch paths, or privacy controls leaves defenders to clean up systemic risk. Shadow IoT—unsanctioned gadgets on corporate networks—multiplies the attack surface, and human error drives the majority of incidents. Mandate secure-by-design requirements with suppliers, require SBOMs to manage third-party code risk, and back it with continuous training and vendor assessments against recognized frameworks.

Strong IoT security isn’t a one-and-done project. It requires constant vigilance and structures to support it. Rotate credentials and add MFA at day one, make signed OTA updates routine, segment ruthlessly under Zero Trust, encrypt end-to-end with managed certs, and require security-by-design from every vendor. The companies that normalize these basics will avoid the expensive lessons everyone else is about to learn.

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🎙️ The IoT For All Podcast

In this episode of the IoT For All Podcast, Terrence DeFranco, CEO of IotaComm, joins Ryan Chacon to discuss the intersection of IoT, sustainability, and infrastructure modernization. The conversation also covers repurposing licensed wireless spectrum, smart buildings and cities, how data drives businesses, integrating IoT with emerging technologies, connecting legacy systems, and bridging the digital divide.

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