The Internet of Things has unlocked huge potential in industrial applications. The ability to connect physically separate devices to central systems enables logical control and data recording at the edge; it’s a major factor in the development of Industry 4.0. Edge controllers can convert and share sensor data in milliseconds. One popular way to achieve this is cellular networking.
Cellular is beneficial because it offers easy scalability and allows for I/O where it would be difficult or impossible to hardwire. Some integrators hesitate to adopt cell technology due to lingering security concerns. In fairness, early cellular networks had weak encryption standards, making it easier for attackers to intercept communications. But modern networks like LTE-M (LTE Cat-M1) have really stepped up on security.
LTE-M brings enhanced encryption standards, mutual authentication between devices, the ability to “slice” networks (more on that below), and more. In fact, using cellular may make your application more secure. Here are key ways cellular networks enhance security in IoT applications.
7 Ways Cellular Networking Improves IoT Security
- Encryption: Cellular networks often use strong encryption protocols to secure data transmission, ensuring that data captured at the edge is protected from interception and tampering.1
- ControlByWeb cellular modules exchange data with the ControlByWeb Cloud using secure, encrypted communication above the cellular infrastructure, preventing “man in the middle” attacks.
- Authentication. Robust authentication mechanisms verify the identity of devices before they can access the network. SIM cards utilize the same robust encryptions as those in credit cards, ensuring device identity security. This helps prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to the system while also verifying that whitelisted devices are working as intended.
- Isolation. IoT devices are isolated from public internet traffic, reducing exposure to potential threats and enhancing the security of data transmission. Devices can only generate Mobile Originated (MO) data; incoming Mobile Terminated (MT) data is blocked.
- Network monitoring. Cellular providers typically offer advanced, real-time network monitoring and threat detection services.
- Edge security. By integrating edge computing with cellular IoT, data can be processed and analyzed closer to where it’s generated. This reduces the amount of data transmitted over the network.2
- Our IoT controllers include an embedded UI you can access from any standard web browser, bringing logical control right to where the edge data is captured.
- Access control. Similar to authentication, access control policies can be put in place to ensure only authorized users and devices can access sensitive data and control systems.
- The ControlByWeb Cloud offers parent/child hierarchy to allow system integrators, OEMs, and end users appropriate access to settings and pages.
- Separation. IT teams may reject integrating third-party edge devices into their existing systems. Cellular allows for completely independent data capture.
These features collectively enhance the security of IoT applications, making cellular networking a reliable choice for managing and protecting edge data.
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Cellular-Enabled Edge Controllers
ControlByWeb® makes edge data more accessible than ever. Our cellular-enabled controllers include an embedded eSIM and on-board logical control. Cellular can be used as the primary method of communication or as a failover to Ethernet. If you’d like to learn more and see how we can help with your industrial application, contact our team or schedule a 15-minute product demo.
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References
1. Ghalaieny, D. (2021, April 9). Critical security risks to IoT on cellular networks and how to handle them: A guide. IoT News. Retrieved from https://www.zariot.com/
2. Rupanetti, D; Kaabouch, N. (2024, June 20). Combining Edge Computing-Assisted Internet of Things Security with Artificial Intelligence: Applications, Challenges, and Opportunities. MDPI.
