In light of AI advancements, securing edge devices has become increasingly crucial.
In today's interconnected world, edge devices – from autonomous vehicles to medical devices and retail security systems – are increasingly becoming a critical part of our daily lives. However, these devices also pose significant security challenges, as they often operate on less secure networks and are vulnerable to cyberattacks.
A recent study revealed that more than a third of IoT transactions are unencrypted, leaving them exposed to potential threats. This vulnerability is further compounded by the fact that many edge devices connect via the public internet or local networks that may be less secure than a corporate cloud backbone.
The consequences of these security lapses can be severe. For instance, seven major vulnerabilities affecting hundreds of thousands of medical devices and ATMs could allow an attacker to exfiltrate patient records or empty out cash machines. Similarly, hackers have taken control of 150,000 remote cameras, including those in schools, police departments, jails, and health clinics, in 2021.
Moreover, bad actors have demonstrated the ability to take over Jeeps, drive away with Tesla Model 3, open, start, and track connected vehicles from various manufacturers. Even commercial drones are vulnerable to spoofing, signal jamming, and man-in-the-middle attacks.
The edge poses security challenges due to its vast attack surface, with over 43 billion connected devices worldwide by 2023. Network edge devices like routers and VPN appliances are the entry point for 30% of the cyberattacks on small and medium-sized businesses. Edge devices are often vulnerable due to their physical exposure in public spaces, where they can be potentially stolen or tampered with.
Lightweight encryption (LE) is becoming popular for edge devices due to its efficiency, but it only protects data in storage and transit, leaving it vulnerable during computation. To ensure comprehensive security, all data collected, processed, transmitted, or stored by edge devices must be securely encrypted without introducing significant latency.
As enterprise data processing migrates from the cloud to local devices where much of the data is generated, businesses and government institutions must extend robust security to their edge operations. To avoid data breaches, it is crucial to address the security challenges posed by the edge, particularly the lack of encryption and the vast attack surface.
The Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community of leading technology executives, has emphasised the importance of securing edge devices. Srinivas Shekar, the Founder and CEO of Pantherun Technologies, is one such member. In 2024, Aydin Kilic, the CEO of HIVE Digital Technologies, was also invited to the council.
Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive public list of all member companies available in the provided search results. However, it is clear that the council recognises the importance of addressing the security challenges posed by edge devices.
In 2023, an Iran-sponsored hacking group tampered with industrial control system devices for water, oil, and gas infrastructure in Israel, Ireland, and the U.S., highlighting the potential for state-sponsored attacks on edge devices.
According to Control Engineering, half of enterprise data will be produced and processed at the edge this year. As we continue to rely on edge devices, it is essential to prioritise their security to protect our data and infrastructure from cybercriminals and adversarial state actors.
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