DIGITAL LIFE

Why IoT security is the next big challenge in cybersecurity

By 2025, the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem will experience unprecedented growth. The volume of data generated by IoT connections in 2025 alone is 79.4 billion. The industry's value is projected to range between $629.5 billion and $875 billion by the end of the year, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.9% to 17.5%.

On the consumer side, 24% say they are overwhelmed by the number of devices they use, indicating massive adoption. More ominously, even in 2025, 70% of IoT devices are still susceptible to attacks.

The attack surface increases with each new IoT device connected to networks. Hackers can access manufacturing facilities, hospitals, and even home thermostats through smart factories, hospitals, and more. Industrial routers control production lines, smart sensors are critical infrastructure, and an intrusion here is much more than a data leak. It can lead to production shutdowns, security risks, and breaches.

The massive infusion of IoT devices is not accompanied by robust security. They often lack encryption, authentication, or update capabilities, making them easy targets. Device compromises can spread quickly and put entire networks at risk.

In the Real World – Statistics and Vulnerabilities

IoT malware attacks increased 45% in 2024 compared to 2023, and there was a 12% increase in attempts to distribute malware on IoT devices.

The average risk of devices increased 15% compared to the previous year. Routers represent more than 50% of the devices at highest risk.

The average downtime of an IoT network is 6.5 hours after attacks. More than 46% of IoT devices in healthcare present one or more uncontrolled risks.

There has been a significant increase in botnet-driven campaigns, with more than 300,000 cyberattacks in 2024 alone. In 2024, DDoS attacks increased by 41%, with a significant increase in automated and mass attacks. Another critical component of application connectivity, such as APIs, saw a 39% increase in bot attacks compared to the previous year.

Sector Actions – Healthcare, Manufacturing, Smart Homes...IoT security risks differ across industries –

Healthcare – By 2025, 100% of healthcare sites were exposed to bot attacks. Medical devices top the risk charts this year, as vulnerable IoT (Internet of Medical Things) devices pose a risk to both patient data and safety. 

Manufacturing and Supply Chain – Downtime isn't the only effect of IoT breaches. They can also disrupt production and interrupt entire supply chains, with ripple effects across industries.

Smart Homes – Smart devices like smart doorbells, smart thermostats, and smoke cameras are rapidly gaining traction. Most of them don't offer basic security protections like two-factor authentication or encryption.

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