Overcoming Five Cybersecurity Challenges of Rugged Devices

Summary

Rugged devices are critical to many heavy industrial operations. While these endpoints can withstand extreme environments, their cyber defenses are often less strong than their physical ones. As attacks against these sectors become more common, rugged device cybersecurity becomes increasingly crucial.
 
Cybersecurity efforts in this area typically fall short because of a few common challenges. Here’s a closer look at these obstacles and how to address them.
 

1. Interoperability barriers

Interoperability with other IT systems is among the most significant challenges to rugged device cybersecurity. Many of these devices are purpose-built for highly specific applications, leaving them without support for common software or protocols. As a result, they lead to network and workflow fragmentation. This can be challenging to account for when 54% of manufacturing workers will need additional tech training to meet digital demands by 2030.
 
Overcoming this obstacle starts with choosing devices that support integrations with the existing tech stack. Unified endpoint management software is likewise crucial, as it gives organizations a single operating system-agnostic place to control and secure all devices. Using these third-party platforms instead of dealing with each endpoint separately cuts down on time and increases visibility for greater protection.
 

2. Limited computing resources

Rugged devices’ industrial use cases typically mean their hardware resources don’t match modern standards. While their primary applications may not need advanced computing capabilities, this limits their support for critical security measures like automation. Cybersecurity automation streamlines responses and minimizes human error, so being unable to use it is a massive disadvantage.
 
The solution lies with network-level protections. When hardware cannot run advanced security software on the device itself, businesses can secure the perimeter through the underlying network. To overcome this barrier, real-time monitoring and software-defined encryption can run on connected infrastructure rather than rugged endpoints’ built-in resources.
 

3. Outdated software

Similarly, many heavy industrial electronics rely on legacy software versions. When physical protection takes priority in design, system modernization often falls by the wayside. Consequently, rugged endpoints may run on outdated operating system (OS) versions, leaving them vulnerable to exploits that newer software has already accounted for.
 
An essential first step is to look for and download any available OS updates. When that’s not an option, IT leaders can try manually patching known vulnerabilities by tinkering with the software themselves. Applying zero-trust architecture on a network level is also important, as stopping suspicious activity before it reaches a rugged device may lessen the threat of outdated software.
 

4. Update and maintenance difficulties

When updates are available, they can still be challenging. Another common barrier to rugged device cybersecurity is the isolated, extreme nature of these endpoints’ surroundings. Heavy industrial or remote operating environments can make access for necessary updates and maintenance difficult.
 
Implementing a remote access and update system is the best way forward. Military standard-compliant electronics already feature electromagnetic interference resistance, bolstering the security of over-the-air updates. Enabling such a system in an industrial facility may require additional communications infrastructure, but the resulting time savings from monitoring and controlling rugged devices remotely will make up for it.
 

5. Awareness gaps and complacency

Finally, a simple lack of awareness stands in the way of rugged device cybersecurity. Complacency and mistakes are prominent threats in all applications, with 66% of security executives citing human error as their largest vulnerability. However, such gaps may be more common in this field, as these endpoints’ strong physical protections may give teams false confidence in their cyber resilience.
 
Better cybersecurity training is the first step to overcoming this obstacle. All employees should understand the specific cyber risks of their infrastructure and know which best practices address them. Company leadership should also go further by making regular inspections a formal part of IT workflows. Routinely reviewing rugged device networks, checking for updates and verifying protections will help businesses stay ahead of emerging threats.
 

Rugged device cybersecurity carries unique challenges

Rugged devices are essential for extreme environments, but organizations must realize that their physical strength does not mean they’re safe from cyber threats. This infrastructure is even more likely to be at risk than conventional systems, so it deserves extra attention.
 
Thankfully, once businesses know how these endpoints may be vulnerable, they can take the necessary steps to secure them. It may take more work and complexity, but the benefits of superior cybersecurity far outweigh the costs.