The Internet of Things (IoT) is an incredible evolution in tech that many HVAC companies are seeing great value in. However, IoT data security is a huge concern in the relatively new technology. For example, the Target data breach was caused due to faulty security with their HVAC vendor. Here are some tips to ensure your IoT data security is ready to handle any threat your HVAC company comes across.
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Start with Security
Often it is too little too late for some HVAC companies once they realize there are security issues with their IoT tech, but if you are just starting out it is good to put security at the forefront of all your efforts. A security-focused start when launching IoT tech should include considerations for constant and secure data collection and prepare for unexpected ways consumers are going to use their data. This can be solved by offering users the opportunity to opt out of data collection and reducing the amount of data that your HVAC company needs to collect.
Encrypt Everything
Many HVAC companies are excited to get started in IoT. Developers do not spend enough time thinking about preventing cyber security risks on both their devices and digital services. It is important to have proper encryption levels and security blocks when launching IoT. You also need to require consumers to amp up their password security by requiring numbers and symbols in their passcodes. This may frustrate consumers, but it will frustrate them even more when there is a data breach because one consumer left their device security vulnerable.
Consider and Plan for Risks
Placing security measures on IoT devices and data collection is not enough. Your data security and development team should walk through every possible scenario where devices or data could become at risk. Once you have walked through the scenarios, create a secure action plan to prevent the data risk or to recover/dump unsecure data.
