AT&T, IBM, Nokia, Palo Alto Networks, Symantec and Trustonic Form IoT Cybersecurity Alliance

In a recent announcement, a group of top-tier cybersecurity companies have announced a new deal to join forces against security threats. The partners include: AT&T, IBM, Nokia, Palo Alto Networks, Symantec and Trustonic. They said that they will use their combined expertise to help tackle critical Internet of Things (IoT) security challenges.

This IoT Cybersecurity Alliance combines industry-leading security providers and IoT experts and will research and raise awareness of ways to better secure the IoT ecosystem. As the number and kinds of connected devices multiply, so have the security risks. In the past three years, AT&T reports a 3,198 percent increase in attackers scanning for vulnerabilities in IoT devices.

Business leaders recognize the potential threat IoT devices designed without security in mind might pose for their organizations. AT&T surveyed companies in 2016, and almost 60 percent said they were not confident in the security of their IoT devices.

“The explosive growth in the number of IoT devices is only expected to continue; therefore, so must the associated cybersecurity protections,” said Mo Katibeh, SVP, Advanced Solutions, AT&T. “Today’s businesses are connecting devices ranging from robots on factory floors to pacemakers and refrigerators. Helping these organizations stay protected requires innovation across the whole IoT ecosystem to enable sustainable growth.”

The alliance members believe the key to IoT security lies in protecting all devices at the endpoint, network, cloud and application layer, and using overarching threat analytics to study the overall ecosystem and designing products with a built- in, always-on security approach.

These IoT Cybersecurity Alliance members want to advise customers and educate the industry on the cybersecurity measures needed to create a safer IoT ecosystem, foster collaboration and advance innovation with top cybersecurity and IoT thought leaders.

“Be it a connected car, pacemaker or coffee maker, every connected device is a potential new entry point for cyberattacks,” said Bill O’Hern, Chief Security Officer, AT&T. “Yet, each device requires very different security considerations. It’s become essential for industry leaders and innovators like those in the founding members of this Alliance, to work together to help the industry find more holistic security approaches for IoT.”