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The connected world of IoT devices brings incredible benefits—from smart manufacturing to intelligent agriculture—but also creates unprecedented security challenges. When billions of devices collect and transmit sensitive data in real-time, how do we ensure they're properly protected?
Rodrigo Ferreira, Senior Vice President of Sales at Thales Mobile Connectivity Solutions, reveals the uncomfortable truth about IoT security: most devices lack built-in protection from the start. "Security isn't by design," he explains, leaving critical vulnerabilities that attackers can easily exploit. Among the biggest concerns is weak authentication—devices using simple login credentials that can be compromised, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate devices or even take over entire systems. When those systems control power grids or medical equipment, the consequences could be devastating.
Secure device identity becomes the foundation for trust in our connected ecosystem. But authentication is just the beginning—data encryption throughout the collection, transmission, and storage journey is equally crucial. As Ferreira states, "It's not a matter of if you get hacked, it's a matter of when." Without proper encryption, compromised data can be easily exploited. The industry faces additional challenges with firmware updates (many devices simply can't be updated) and fragmented regulations across regions, making global IoT deployments particularly complex.
Despite these challenges, innovation continues with promising developments like the GSM-SGP32 specification, which simplifies secure connectivity across multiple carriers without complex integrations. Ultimately, IoT security requires collaboration across the entire ecosystem—no single player can solve it alone. As we build our connected future, the responsibility falls on all participants to prioritize security at every layer, from device to network to cloud. Learn more about Thales' approach to IoT security at upcoming industry events including Mobile World Congress Americas.

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