Securing the Future of Enterprise IoT: A Strategic Imperative for Technology Leaders

As digital transformation redefines every sector, enterprise IoT has moved from experimental edge technology to core infrastructure. From connected factory equipment and smart logistics to medical imaging systems and critical monitoring platforms, enterprise IoT devices are becoming embedded in the operational heart of modern organizations.

But with strategic importance comes strategic risk.

A recent UK government-commissioned report by the NCC Group has revealed what many IT leaders have suspected: the IoT security foundations of enterprise IoT are dangerously underdeveloped. The findings included remotely exploitable vulnerabilities, decade-old software still in production use, insecure default configurations, and devices routinely running with root privileges.

This isn’t just a technical oversight; it’s a systematic risk.

The Hidden Threats Inside the Perimeter

Enterprise IoT often suffers from a “set and forget” mindset. Devices are installed, connected, and left unmonitored for years. Yet they sit on the same networks as sensitive systems, making them a perfect target for lateral movement.

Consider a very real example, close to home.

A Wake-Up Call from the NHS

In 2020, the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) flagged critical vulnerabilities in internet-connected medical devices deployed across NHS Trusts. Many were running unsupported software and exposed to internal networks without segmentation. A subsequent audit led to over 100 devices being pulled offline at one Trust, causing operational disruption in patient care.

While no breach occurred, the risk was clear: these devices were un-patchable, unmanaged, and potentially life-threatening if compromised. The government responded with a £150 million investment in NHS cybersecurity, but only after the scale of the threat was made clear.

For CIOs and CTOs, this is a lesson in timing: investing after an incident is always more costly than preparing before one.

Why Enterprise IoT Security Is a Boardroom Issue

This isn’t just an IT hygiene problem – it’s a business continuity and reputational risk. A breach originating from a single insecure IoT endpoint can lead to ransomware propagation, operational downtime, or regulatory failure.

Security leaders must now treat enterprise IoT as a first-class citizen in their threat modeling, architecture reviews, and incident response planning.

A Five-Point Security Strategy for Enterprise IoT

1. Bake in Security from the Beginning

Procure devices with security in mind, not just functionality. Modern, supported software, hardened configurations, and least-privilege designs must be table stakes. Use standards like ETSI EN 303 645 and the NCSC Device Security Principles as minimum requirements.

2. Embrace Lifecycle Management

Security is not a one-time audit. Enterprises must adopt platforms that provide full lifecycle control, from onboarding and patching to end-of-life decommissioning. If you can’t see or update a device, you can’t protect it.

3. Build for Physical Exposure

Many IoT devices operate in uncontrolled environments. They must be resilient even with physical access. Secure boot, encrypted storage, hardware root-of-trust – these are all essential for enterprise-grade deployments.

4. Demand Security from Your Suppliers

Procurement must enforce accountability. Require vendors to demonstrate a secure software development lifecycle (SSDLC), regular patching commitments, and vulnerability disclosure transparency. Bake these expectations into contracts.

5. Defend in Depth

Strong passwords are not enough. Your architecture must assume compromise and provide layered protection: segmentation, certificate-based authentication, encrypted telemetry, and anomaly detection. The goal is not just to stop threats, but to contain them.

Pelion’s Commitment to Resilient Connectivity

At Pelion, we believe that secure IoT connectivity is the foundation of a trustworthy digital future. We work with enterprises and regulators to embed security into every phase of IoT, from device onboarding to network connectivity and deployment management at scale.

For CIOs and CTOs, the challenge is clear: enterprise IoT represents both a powerful opportunity and a growing liability. You must act now to secure these assets, not only to reduce risk, but to uphold resilience, trust, and operational integrity.

Lead the Change Before It’s Forced Upon You

Handled correctly, this isn’t just a risk to mitigate, it’s a strategic advantage to lead. Enterprises that build IoT security into their fabric will move faster, scale more confidently, and stay ahead of both attackers and regulators.

Connectivity without security is a false economy. Let’s build a future where enterprise IoT is not just connected, but protected – by design, by default, and by leadership.