Telefónica has built what it is describing as the first Internet of Things specific security product to protect against attacks, amid growing concerns about the vulnerabilities of networks.
Its cybersecurity subsidiary ElevenPaths has built upon its existing Faast solution, which detects and analyses security threats, to include the IoT.
The updated product allows companies to continually scan its IoT devices for vulnerabilities such as lack of robustness in authentication or authorisation, insecure network services, or a lack of encryption. An enterprise is able to manage these vulnerabilities through its Vamps online portal.
Chema Alonso, CEO of ElevenPaths, said: “Traditional periodic security checks don’t make sense anymore because the changes in the infrastructure, the emergence of new vulnerabilities and different bugs are continuing. The evolution of Vamps and Faast towards IoT will allow companies to rely on a persistent pentesting and vulnerability management system that will facilitate the quick discovery of new connected devices and possible bugs, thereby reducing the exposure time of these devices to these threats.”
Last month, Telefónica warned that telcos were “sleepwalking” into a world of IoT-based risk. Because innovation is outpacing protection, the operator warned companies could face “catastrophic” risks if they do not ensure their networks are secure.
Fears over security is seen as one of the biggest obstacles to mass-scale IoT adoption. A recent report from Accenture found almost half of consumers were worried about both security and privacy vulnerabilities.