Also known as “Internet of Things” devices, IoT devices process and communicate data to other devices using the internet. In a modern home, these can include everything from Bluetooth speakers, and streaming sticks to a particularly fancy fridge or printer. However, while these devices are convenient, they make home networks far more vulnerable to breaches in cybersecurity.
Most IoT devices are designed with little to no security, making them easy targets for cybercriminals. They typically don’t have anti-malware or antivirus capabilities, their systems aren’t updated regularly, and they have simple interfaces that can conceal a device breach. When these devices are compromised, cybercriminals can use this point of access to attack other devices connected to your home network, potentially giving them access to files saved on those devices.
How Can a Guest Network Help?
To protect home networks from the potential vulnerabilities of IoT devices, homeowners and business owners must connect all IoT devices to a guest network instead of their primary network. Almost every Wi-Fi router allows owners to create these separate networks. When IoT devices are connected to these, if someone manages to compromise the cybersecurity of an IoT device, it won’t give them an access point to your other devices.
Why IoT Device Vulnerabilities Matter to Businesses
With remote work becoming the norm, IoT devices’ risks to home networks also present risks for businesses. WFH employees most likely connect their work devices to the same network as their IoT devices. If a breach were to happen, cybercriminals would be able to access sensitive files saved on employees’ work devices.
At BetterWorld Technology, we believe that all employees should learn to protect their work devices and their data. Whether you run a small Atlanta-based company or a sizeable Chicago-based organization, your sensitive business files are critical to your business’s operation — don’t wait until it’s too late to pursue proper cybersecurity.