IoT-Enabled Sensors in Automation Systems and Their Security Challenges
Thilo Sauter, Albert Treytl
Abstract
Today, IoT-based sensor devices are ubiquitous. Being cost effective and easy to deploy, they are also considered for many applications outside their original domain, which was consumer electronics. Factory and process automation, smart buildings and homes, and in general Industry 4.0 are application fields is which the use of IoT technology is gaining popularity, often in addition to existing, classical communication architectures on the operational technology (OT) level. IoT devices, however, typically have a different philosophy for communication and data exchange, which makes them easy to use, but poses security challenges by bypassing established security architectures like the classical defense-in-depth concept defined, for instance, in the IEC 62443 standard. This article highlights today's security needs and concepts in industrial environments. Furthermore, it looks at possible new attack surfaces opened by IoT-based applications and shows ways how to bridge the security gap.