Aeris, a global leader in secure cellular IoT platforms and solutions, has unveiled the world’s first fully integrated cellular IoT security solution, Aeris IoT Watchtower. This groundbreaking offering empowers enterprises with enhanced visibility and control over their IoT ecosystems, aiming to prevent security breaches, mitigate incident impacts, boost operational efficiency, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
The introduction of Aeris IoT Watchtower is timely, as IoT devices have become prime targets for cyber attackers. Deloitte’s 2024 Cyber Threat Landscape Report indicates a 400% surge in IoT malware attacks across various industries. Additionally, Forrester forecasts that “in 2025, a major IoT security breach will occur, affecting large numbers of devices.”
Aeris IoT Watchtower comprises two essential components:
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Aeris IoT Watchtower Awareness: Offers in-depth insights into IoT device behaviors and communication patterns, enabling real-time threat detection, operational efficiency improvements, and regulatory compliance assurance.
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Aeris IoT Watchtower Enforcement: Allows network and security administrators to implement secure access control policies based on identified risks, facilitating deployments aligned with zero trust security principles.
Seamlessly integrated with Aeris IoT Accelerator—the leading cellular IoT connection management platform acquired from Ericsson’s global IoT business in 2023—Aeris IoT Watchtower collaborates with 30 mobile operators to monitor data sessions’ destinations, ports, and protocols in real-time. Utilizing proprietary AI and a comprehensive threat database, it delivers real-time threat detection, zero trust networking-based attack prevention policies, and tools for attack containment and isolation.
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Aeris IoT Watchtower has garnered adoption from organizations across diverse sectors and regions, including mobile operators, manufacturers, solution providers, and enterprises. Notable implementations include:
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Swisscom Broadcast Services (SBS): Leveraged its partnership with Aeris to deploy Aeris IoT Watchtower, providing immediate visibility into the security status of over 8,000 gateways and automating threat monitoring and detection.
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ABB Motion: Plans to enhance the security and automation capabilities of its IoT-enabled services using Aeris IoT Watchtower.
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Murata Manufacturing: Integrated Aeris IoT Watchtower into its ZENCROSS™ Alliance IoT management ecosystem, facilitating the convergence of hardware, firmware, and network services.
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Bridge Alliance: Deployed Aeris IoT Watchtower to deliver value for enterprise IoT across its network of 35 leading mobile operators spanning Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
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LB Technology: Utilizes Aeris IoT Watchtower to offer device traffic monitoring, anomaly detection, and risk assessment reports for its North American fleet telematics services.
The proliferation of IoT devices as integral components of critical infrastructure has simultaneously increased their attractiveness as targets for cyber attacks. Many devices are remote, outdated, and often lack fundamental security measures, providing potential entry points for attackers into sensitive systems and networks.
Monitoring nearly 600,000 smart devices, Aeris IoT Watchtower has identified significant communications with the dark web—typically associated with botnets and command-and-control servers—and clear instances of advanced persistent threats, malicious events, and numerous devices interacting with phishing sites and services.
Exploiting vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and devices can have severe, even life-threatening, consequences. For instance, manipulating devices within the utility grid could trigger power outages; compromising IoT devices in a fleet might allow attackers to interfere with vehicles, drivers, and cargo; and breaching medical devices like CPAP machines could endanger millions of users.
Moreover, regulatory landscapes are becoming more stringent. The EU’s Cyber Resilience Act, the NIS2 Directive, and the UK’s Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act are mandating enhanced security measures for IoT devices. Businesses must act promptly to fortify their defenses and avoid costly breaches.