Authentication attack

International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) or Subscriber Permanent Identifier (SUPI) attacks are major threats to cellular IoT devices. These attacks can deceive the authentication process, with the cellular provider enabling identity disclosure and impersonation. IMSI attacks are alarmingly easy to carry out: when a device connects to a cell tower, it authenticates to it via its International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). IMSI is a unique identifier linked to a SIM card and is one of the pieces of data used to authenticate a device to the mobile network. The issue, however, is that the tower doesn’t have to authenticate back, making it extremely easy and effective. 

With the sheer variety of possible attacks that threaten cellular IoT devices, organizations need to take a proactive approach to security. Data isn’t the only thing at risk. Billion-dollar systems and national infrastructure can be taken down by nefarious rivals or someone who’s just out to prove their hacking skills. Fortunately, it’s possible to be proactive around cellular IoT security.

Accelerating IoT adoption

Many enterprises lack a user-friendly, efficient, and cost-effective connectivity solution that supports IoT devices and their use cases. Companies often must deal with system overload or network incapacity due to the sheer network traffic of deployed cellular IoT devices.

Finally, enterprises do not always have a single view of all their connected devices for visualization and operational control purposes. In some cases, their connected devices are spread across multiple platforms provided by the operator, making it hard to control all the connected devices in one place versus one central management platform that allows them to manage them all as if they were “one” device. 

In a time of hyperconnectivity and record levels of cellular hacking, IoT security threats are hindering business operations for many enterprises that depend on their IoT cellular-connected devices.

Critical infrastructure—from power grids to financial services to telco operations—increasingly implement IoT to streamline operations and reduce costs. Yet, as security is often not embedded in the design of these IoT devices, it opens them up to cyber risks, such as threat actors interfering with services and even putting lives at risk.

Many mobile healthcare organizations that deploy cellular-connected IoT technology face threats that interrupt operations, resulting in risks to health and life, especially if the simplicity of the devices prevents built-in solid security. 

Effective IoT fleet management maximizes utilization, minimizes costs, and ensures safe operations. However, insufficient IoT security for the devices tracking and managing cargo can encourage threat actors to attack and compromise the cargo. 

Moving forward to connectivity success

Enterprises require solutions that will help them achieve their business objectives, from cost efficiency to easy-to-use interfaces, and security to customizability. Enterprises need complete network control to achieve easy, reliable connectivity and streamline security and operations. They need flexible configurations for fast deployments. They need simple and self-explanatory GUIs and easy-to-enforce business rules and security policies. Ideally, they’ll be able to use a network-based, secure platform to assure protection against a whole host of security risks from network-based attacks. They should be able to isolate network services to ensure the security of enterprise data, provide low latency, and enable companies to self-control the network. Operator lock-in can also be an issue if the operator doesn’t supply the appropriate connectivity or service. Therefore, having contracts with several operators gives an enterprise more control over the management of its IoT cellular devices. 

With complete control of their connected devices, enterprises can have the peace of mind to focus on meeting their business goals. Optimum cellular-IoT connectivity management and security streamline IoT device operations—helping the enterprise make things run more smoothly.