Top IoT Security Companies

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Internet of Things (IoT) devices are proliferating. In fact, studies indicate that at least 29 billion IoT devices will be connected to the internet by 2030. This growth is fueled by the possibilities created by 5G and other technologies. However, this is also creating a security nightmare for enterprises.

As businesses adopt IoT devices and systems, the potential for cyberattacks increases. Hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in IoT devices to gain access to corporate networks and steal sensitive data.

To secure their networks and protect their data, businesses are scrambling to install IoT security software and invest in IoT security solutions and services. As a result, the global IoT security market is growing rapidly and is expected to reach over $20.77 billion USD by 2028, with an CAGR of 32.3% during the forecast period, according to Fortune Business Insights.

What is IoT Security Software?

IoT security software protects devices, networks, and data from unauthorized access and cyber threats. These solutions offer a range of features, including device authentication, encryption, network monitoring, and real-time alerts for potential attacks.

IoT security systems secure user data and provide updated protection against threats, so devices can communicate and users can connect with and manage data safely.

IoT security technology is always changing and adapting to new industry demands, so organizations can have secure networks. These products work like other IT security software, but are made specifically for IoT management tools.

Also see: Leading IoT Devices 

Top IoT Security Companies and Services

AWS IoT Device Defender

AWS IoT Device Defender logoOne of the top players in IoT security is Amazon’s AWS IoT Device Defender. This service protects and manages IoT devices by continuously monitoring for unexpected behavior, detecting security vulnerabilities, and enforcing policies for authentication and communication. AWS IoT Device Defender also offers a centralized audit tool that allows users to easily monitor and manage device configurations.

Key Features

  • Audit: AWS IoT Device Defender has a security auditing tool that keeps IoT devices and related resources compliant with AWS security best practices. It does this by checking for things like multiple devices using the same identity or overly permissive policies that could allow one device to read and update data for many others. If any configurations are found to be out of compliance, AWS IoT Device Defender will report them for corrective action. In this way, AWS IoT Device Defender can keep IoT deployment secure and compliant.
  • Rules Detect: AWS IoT Device Defender allows users to define custom rules for detecting potential security threats, such as unauthorized access or unexpected data changes. These rules can be run on a schedule, so potential threats are regularly monitored, and notification alerts can be configured to notify users if any issues are detected.
  • ML Detect: In addition to the customizable rules detection feature, AWS IoT Device Defender also offers machine learning (ML)-based anomaly detection capabilities. This feature identifies abnormal behavior in IoT devices and provides additional protection against unforeseen risks.
  • Mitigation Actions: If a threat is detected, AWS IoT Device Defender has pre-configured mitigation actions that can be automatically taken in response. These include things like blocking communication from an identified malicious device or revoking its access to the AWS IoT Core resources.
  • Alerts: AWS IoT Device Defender allows users to configure notifications for various security events, such as detected threats or devices going offline. These alerts can be sent via Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS) or AWS IoT Events, allowing for easy integration with other security monitoring and notification systems.
  • Metrics Integration: AWS IoT Device Defender allows users to visualize and monitor IoT security metrics through integration with Fleet Hub for AWS IoT Device Management. This allows for more comprehensive security monitoring and analysis of IoT deployments.

Key Advantages

  • Easy integration with other AWS services
  • Automated anomaly detection and mitigation actions
  • Good analytics
  • Machine learning for improved anomaly detection
  • Powerful auditing features

Pricing

Pricing is based on a pay-as-you-go model. There are no minimum fees or mandatory service usage, but audit and detection features are billed separately. Pricing for the audit features is also done separately and is pegged on the number of active device principals in a month. Customers can estimate pricing using the AWS pricing calculator.

McAfee Embedded Control

McAfee logoThis IoT security platform offers a combination of hardware and software protection for device manufacturers, as well as enterprise-level network security. McAfee Embedded Control offers strong authentication, access control, and data encryption to ensure devices and networks are secure from potential threats.

Key Features

  • Guaranteed System Integrity: McAfee Embedded Control offers the ability to protect and guarantee the integrity of device code, preventing unauthorized modifications or tampering. It does this via external and internal threat defense. External threat defense ensures only authorized code runs and is tamper-proof while no one can inject unauthorized code into memory. Internal threat defense prevents unauthorized changes to code while it is running in memory.
  • Advanced Change Control: McAfee Embedded Control offers advanced change control capabilities, allowing for fine-tuned management and control over the installation and execution of new or modified software on a device. This helps to prevent unauthorized or potentially malicious code changes and maintains the integrity of IoT devices.
  • Real-Time, Closed Loop Audit and Compliance: This IoT security solution offers real-time auditing to help ensure compliance with various regulatory requirements. It also has a closed-loop system for remediating any potential non-compliant changes that may occur.
  • Low Operational Overhead: McAfee Embedded Control is designed to have low operational overhead, allowing for easier deployment and management of the solution.

Key Advantages

  • Strong authentication and access control
  • Excellent compliance features
  • Low operational overhead
  • High malware detection rates
  • Value-added security products from the vendor, such as a VPN and a password manager

Pricing

Pricing for McAfee Embedded Control is not publicly available and must be requested from the vendor.

Also see: 6 IoT Challenges and How to Fix Them

Mbed OS

Arm MBED OS logoArm Mbed OS is an open-source IoT operating system designed for use by device manufacturers and features a platform security architecture (PSA) IoT device security framework. Arm has been working with a number of test labs, security consultants, and other organizations in order to establish a certification scheme. In addition, it provides a reference software implementation of the PSA root of trust through the Trusted Firmware project.

Key Features

  • Arm Mbed TLS and a Secure Partition Manager (SPM): Mbed OS offers a secure communication stack in the form of Mbed TLS, a Secure Sockets Layer and Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS) library. It also includes a Secure Partition Manager, which provides secure partitioning and isolation to enable multiple applications to run securely on a single device.
  • Hardened Cloud Services: Arm has worked with AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud to harden their cloud services for use with Mbed OS, allowing for secure communication and management of IoT devices.
  • Robust Communication Stacks: Mbed OS offers a range of communication stacks for IoT devices, including Bluetooth Low Energy, Thread, and LTE-M. These allow for secure connectivity to various networks and support the latest standards in each technology.
  • Safe Firmware Updates: Mbed OS offers secure over-the-air (OTA) updates for firmware, ensuring only authorized and trusted updates can be applied to a device.

Key Advantages

  • Open source
  • Strong security features including secure communication and OTA updates
  • Wide range of supported connectivity options
  • Clean directory structure and build system
  • Variety of online open-source middleware solutions
  • Straightforward integration with new platforms
  • Interoperability of different software stacks in the Mbed ecosystem

Pricing

Mbed OS is open-source and free to use. However, private support packages are available for a fee through Arm’s Mbed Enabled program.

Google Cloud IoT Core

Google Cloud IoT Core logoGoogle Cloud IoT Core is a fully managed service for securely connecting, managing, and ingesting data from millions of globally dispersed devices. It offers a range of features designed to ensure the security of an IoT device fleet.

Key Features

  • Device Management: Google Cloud IoT Core allows for easy onboarding and management of millions of devices, including remote device configuration and software updates.
  • End-to-End Security: The service offers a range of security features, including automatic provisioning of device-specific credentials, support for industry-standard TLS protocol to authenticate devices, and access control through Cloud IoT Core’s authentication feature.
  • Integrated Analytics: Google Cloud IoT Core offers seamless integration with other Google Cloud services such as BigQuery and Dataflow for data analysis and machine learning.
  • Scalability: The service is designed to easily scale to manage millions of devices, allowing for growth as IoT solutions expand.

Key Advantages

  • Seamless integration with other Google Cloud services
  • Strong security features
  • Easy device management
  • Scalable to handle large numbers of devices.

Pricing

Google Cloud IoT Core is priced on a per-device and per-month basis, with a free tier offering up to 500 devices and 1 million messages per month. There are also separate charges for data storage and application programming interface (API) calls.

Azure Sphere

Microsoft Azure Sphere logoAzure Sphere by Microsoft is a solution for securely connecting and managing MCU (microcontroller)-powered IoT devices. With security and connectivity at its core, organizations can create affordable intelligent products and experiences for the Internet of Things quickly and efficiently.

Key Features

  • Secure Intelligent Devices From Chip to Cloud: Azure Sphere keeps data safe by using a combination of hardware, software, and cloud-based security solutions. The certified guardian modules connect current devices to the cloud. Organizations can get started by embedding Azure Sphere into new devices with the development kit. The solution also provides a secure and trusted platform for developing and deploying industrial IoT solutions.
  • Diverse Device Catalog: There is a range of Azure Sphere certified chips and modules available from leading semiconductor manufacturers, to allow for the creation of diverse IoT solutions.
  • Over-the-Air Update: Azure Sphere includes automatic over-the-air updates to ensure devices always have the latest security features and patches.
  • Interoperation With IoT Platform Services: Organizations can easily connect their IoT solution to other Microsoft Azure services, such as Azure IoT Hub and IoT Central for managing device connectivity or Time Series Insights for analyzing complex industrial IoT data streams.

Key Advantages

  • Strong security features at every level from hardware to cloud
  • Support for a range of MCU-powered devices
  • Seamless integration with other Microsoft Azure services
  • Vibrant user community
  • Easy setup and installation

Pricing

The Azure Sphere MCU prices will depend on the type of MCU. For example, the MediaTek MT3620 AN will cost less than $8.95 for a physical chip including all licenses, updates, support, and security service until 2031, as mentioned in the vendor’s pricing table. As the vendor adds new lineups of MCUs, their capabilities and manufacturer requirements will result in changes to current prices.

FortiNAC

Fortinet FortiNAC logoFortiNAC, a solution from Fortinet, is a zero-trust network access control (NAC) tool aimed at managing and securing enterprise network access through visibility, control, and automation. With this tool, users have enhanced visibility of IoT devices on their enterprise networks.

Key Features

  • Agentless Scanning: FortiNAC can scan for IoT devices without the need for installing software (agents), saving time and resources. This is beneficial for IoT devices, especially where installing agents may not be feasible, such as medical devices.
  • 17 Profiling Methods: FortiNAC can accurately profile IoT devices using a range of methods, including MAC address, DHCP fingerprinting, and IEEE-manufacturer OUI.
  • Simplified Onboarding: FortiNAC includes a self-registration portal for users to easily register and onboard IoT devices onto the network with minimal manual intervention by IT staff.
  • Microsegmentation: FortiNAC allows users to quickly and easily restrict network access for devices to only the necessary network assets. This helps prevent lateral movement and limit the impact of potential IoT device compromises.
  • Multi-Site Scalability: FortiNAC can support multiple enterprise sites, providing a centralized management interface for visibility and control across all locations and millions of devices.

Key Advantages

  • Effective agentless scanning for IoT devices
  • Accurate profiling using multiple methods
  • Easy to implement and manage
  • Scalable for large, multi-site enterprises

Pricing

Pricing for FortiNAC is not readily available on the vendor’s website, but prospective customers can sign up for a free demo and contact sales support for pricing information.

Entrust IoT Security

Entrust logoEntrust IoT Security uses machine and user identity management to help organizations protect IT and OT devices at any scale. The software platform uses enterprise-grade cryptography to assign unique digital identities to connected IoT devices, creating an end-to-end chain of trust in IoT environments across industries.

Key Features

  • IoT Identity Issuance: Entrust IoT Security enables organizations to establish identities for IoT devices and securely provision credentials for authentication and access control.
  • IoT Identity Management: The platform includes a central dashboard for overseeing all issued device identities, including revocation and renewal.
  • IoT Security Analytics: The tool helps detect and prevent threats by providing real-time visibility and analysis of IoT device behavior and network communication.
  • IoT Remote Access: The solution allows for secure remote access to IoT devices, helping facilitate remote management and maintenance.

Key Advantages

  • Strong focus on identity and access management
  • Provides a central dashboard for easy oversight of device identities
  • Real-time security analytics
  • Software OTA updates
  • End-to-end encryption between IoT devices and the cloud

Pricing

Pricing for Entrust IoT Security is not readily available on the vendor’s website. Interested customers need to contact the vendor for a quote.

Also see: Best IoT Platforms for Device Management

Choosing an IoT Security Company

Choosing an IoT security company can be a daunting task. There are many new vendors in the market, and it is difficult to know who to trust. It is important to do your research and ask the right questions.

Here are four things to look for when choosing an IoT security company:

  1. Experience and Reputation: Experience is critical in the world of IoT security. This is a new and complicated space, so you need a vendor with years of technical experience in cybersecurity. The last thing you want is to be a guinea pig for a company that is trying to figure things out as they go along.
  2. Ease of Use: Ease of use is also important. You should be able to set up and manage your account without headaches or hassles. The user interface should be intuitive and the process should be reasonably straightforward.
  3. Cost: Cost is always a consideration when choosing any type of vendor. Your costs can quickly spiral out of control if you’re not careful. Be sure to ask about pricing upfront, and get all the details in writing before you commit to anything.
  4. Support: Ensure you can get support when you need it and not at the vendor’s convenience. Things will go wrong occasionally, so it’s important to have a vendor that can resolve problems quickly and efficiently. Look for a vendor that offers 24/7 support and omnichannel options such as phone, email, and chat.

Overall, it’s important to carefully weigh the pros and cons of each vendor before making a decision. The stakes are high in IoT security, and you need to choose a vendor that will protect your business and keep you safe from emerging threats.

Also see: Top Edge Computing Companies

Features of IoT Security Tools

IoT security software offers a range of features to protect networks and devices. These include:

  • Compatibility With the Latest IoT Devices and Technology: IoT security software is constantly updated to support the latest devices and technology. This ensures the network remains secure even as new devices are added or technology changes.
  • Robust Security for Communication Between Devices and User Access: IoT security tools protect the communication between devices, preventing unauthorized users from gaining access to sensitive data or altering device function. It also limits user access to devices, ensuring only authorized users can modify device settings or retrieve data.
  • Comprehensive Authentication Measures: IoT security platforms offer both device and administrative authentication measures. This ensures only trusted individuals or devices can access the network and prevents unauthorized access.
  • Real-Time Alerts: IoT security software offers real-time alerts for potential threats, such as communication interruptions or unauthorized access attempts. This allows security staff to quickly address any security issues and mitigate the risk of a successful attack.
  • Software Updates: IoT security solutions automatically update software as new versions become available, ensuring the network remains protected against the latest threats.

Also see: Using Digital Twins to Push IoT

Benefits of IoT Security

Protection

One of the most important functions of IoT security software is protection. Not all devices and machines were originally designed to connect to the internet, and many lack basic security features such as password protection and encryption. This leaves them open to attack by hackers who can easily obtain sensitive information.

IoT security software can equip devices with the necessary security features to protect against these attacks. In addition, IoT security tools can also help organizations block malicious traffic, detect threats, and recover from data breaches. By using IoT security software, organizations can protect their devices and data from the growing number of threats posed by internet-connected devices.

Management

When it comes to security, the Internet of Things presents a unique challenge. With hundreds of devices constantly connected to a network, it can be difficult to keep track of them all. That’s where IoT security management software comes in.

By keeping an inventory of all devices and managing their access rights, organizations can be sure only authorized devices can access their data. And if a device is no longer needed or an unauthorized device appears, organizations can simply delete all of the stored data and restrict its access to the network. In this way, IoT security software provides a simple and effective way to manage device security.

Monitoring

IoT security software provides a comprehensive solution for managing and securing IoT devices. One of the key benefits of this type of software is its ability to monitor devices. By constantly scanning for new devices, IoT security software can provide up-to-date information on the origins of devices and their owners. This information is critical for ensuring endpoints are operating efficiently and for alerting users to any abnormal behavior.

In addition, IoT security software can also help to remediate any security issues that may arise. By constantly monitoring devices, IoT security software can help to keep IoT networks safe and secure.

Kihara Kimachia
Kihara Kimachia
Kihara Kimachia is a writer and digital marketing consultant with over a decade of experience covering issues in emerging technology and innovation. In addition to appearing regularly in Enterprise Networking Planet, his work has been published in many leading technology publications, including TechRepublic, eSecurity Planet, Server Watch, Channel Insider, IT Business Edge, and Enterprise Storage Forum.

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