K
Kathleen Martin
Guest
With millions of Internet of Things (IoT) devices from phones to smart home censors flooding the market every year, effective cybersecurity to help mitigate risks to devices is vital. New guidance from The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), IoT Non-Technical Supporting Capability Core Baseline (NISTIR 8259B), is intended to help manufacturers identify the non-technical capabilities they need to support device and system cybersecurity controls and to communicate with customers and third parties effectively. NISTIR 8259B is one of four documents recently released by NIST to help manufacturers and federal agencies manage cybersecurity, which include IoT Device Cybersecurity Guidance for the Federal Government: Establishing IoT Device Cybersecurity Requirements (SP 800-213), Creating a Profile Using the IoT Core Baseline and Non-Technical Baseline (NISTIR 8259C), and Profile Using the IoT Core Baseline and Non-Technical Baseline for the Federal Government (NISTIR 8259D).
The guidance notes that “both device cybersecurity capabilities and non-technical supporting capabilities are vital to customers’ abilities to achieve their needs and goals.” While IoT devices are typically secured through technological capabilities, NISTIR 8259B focuses on the non-technical supporting capabilities that “that manufacturers or third parties take in support of the initial and ongoing security of IoT devices.” The guidance identifies four primary non-technical areas of cybersecurity:
The guidance notes that “both device cybersecurity capabilities and non-technical supporting capabilities are vital to customers’ abilities to achieve their needs and goals.” While IoT devices are typically secured through technological capabilities, NISTIR 8259B focuses on the non-technical supporting capabilities that “that manufacturers or third parties take in support of the initial and ongoing security of IoT devices.” The guidance identifies four primary non-technical areas of cybersecurity:
- Documentation, which ensures that customers and third parties have the information they need to ensure their device and its data are secure;
- Information and query reception, which helps businesses respond to questions customers and others may have about a device’s security and operation;
- Information dissemination, which ensures that customers are kept in the loop about any newly discovered security issues or device or related systems updates; and
- Education and awareness, to assist customers and others in understanding how to secure and protect IoT software, hardware, and systems.
