NIST Releases Draft Security Feature Recommendations for IoT Devices

Appliances from refrigerators to thermostats are now available in models that interact with a wireless network, making them easier to control with a computer or smartphone. Because these devices can also put our security at risk, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a guide to help us all adjust to a world where seemingly everything is connected — and potentially vulnerable.

The guide identifies a set of voluntary recommended cybersecurity features to include in network-capable devices, whether designed for the home, the hospital or the factory floor. Although the guide’s subtitle is A Starting Point for IoT Device Manufacturers, its principles can be useful to anyone who links a device to the internet.