Cyber threats are rising: What to consider when planning your IoT deployment
Digital fraud, corporate breaches, and cyber warfare. Today's threat landscape makes data protection more critical than ever. Yet many still build IoT deployments without considering how data is actually protected. Here are the security aspects you should consider when connecting devices – from sensor all the way to your IT environment.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is no longer just a promising technology. Billions of IoT devices are creating sustainable, innovative, and efficient outcomes for businesses worldwide. Yet many still overlook security.
We often see companies not thinking much about security when launching their IoT projects. Instead, they focus entirely on functionality to get up and running quickly and start creating business and customer value.
Oscar Eklund Berggren, IoT Solutions Manager at Telia Sweden.
Oscar Eklund Berggren, IoT Solutions Manager at Telia Sweden.
IoT security is critical in today's geopolitical climate. Hackers cause financial damage, sabotage operations, steal business-critical information, and attempt to take control of vital infrastructure. Strong digital security has never been more important.
"Data security and network security should be a natural part of the whole. Think of your IoT deployment as an extension of your own network," recommends Oscar Eklund Berggren.
Telia's IoT offerings have security built in by design at every layer – from data generation in IoT devices and sensors to value creation in Telia's IoT platform.
"We help customers build IoT deployments that meet their security requirements and comply with applicable regulations. We minimize vulnerabilities and manage risks," Oscar Eklund Berggren continues.
How sensitive is your data? Start by classifying
IoT is used in many different ways. Some companies have simple deployments – like a few temperature sensors in the office to optimize indoor climate. Others build digital twins of critical infrastructure with millions of sensors and data flows to and from different devices. Security needs vary accordingly.
The first step is to analyze how critical your IoT deployment is, how sensitive your IoT data is, and which systems are affected by them. This classification determines what type of security you need – making it essential.
For business-critical or societally critical infrastructure, such as power grids, water systems, traffic management, and healthcare, the highest security is required. With Telia's dedicated IoT and fiber networks, devices connect to your data centers without passing through the public internet. These deployments are built on segmentation, encryption, multi-factor authentication, and Zero Trust architecture, and comply with EU standards such as GDPR and NIS2.
"The technology already exists. The question is what you need. We help you adapt the security level to your operations," Oscar Eklund Berggren concludes.
Unlike previous generations, 5G SA is built entirely on a new core network architecture that enables higher security, increased reliability, and greater flexibility. Features like end-to-end encryption, network isolation, and private networks give organizations – particularly critical in healthcare, manufacturing, and emergency services – complete control and top-tier protection.
Complete offerings for secure and scalable IoT
Threats in the digital landscape make security more important than ever. With a comprehensive strategy, you can confidently capitalize on IoT opportunities. This requires the right expertise, robust devices, secure networks, and platforms with strong, built-in protections.
At Telia, we ensure every component works together, so you can focus on innovation with confidence in every connection. We offer expert security advisors, technically advanced capabilities, and dedicated infrastructure that protects your IoT deployment and delivers reliable, accessible data.
