How To Reduce Cyber Risks Across Connected Devices And Services

Verify Whether Security Controls Still Work

One underestimated risk is assuming security controls stay operational. Agents fail silently, patches don’t deploy and configurations drift, even without an attack. As AI speeds up attacks, organizations need more than backups. They need continuous verification that critical controls are healthy and self-healing automation to restore them when they break. – Christy Wyatt, Absolute

Find And Secure Shadow APIs

The most underestimated risk is shadow APIs connecting legacy systems to new AI agents. While we focus on device hardware, these interfaces often lack the same rigor as public endpoints. Implement automated API discovery and schema validation at the edge, treating internal connectivity with zero trust. Ensure that even a compromised device cannot pivot laterally through an unmonitored API. – Anil Pantangi, Capgemini America Inc.

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Speed Patch Management For AI-Enabled Threats

With Mythos-like frontier models, it’s going to be extremely easy for bad actors to exploit devices connected to the internet. Both businesses and consumers are extremely unprepared and, in most cases, ignorant of these emerging risks. The industry will need both user education and the ability to speed up patches that can be automatically deployed once such an exposure is confirmed. – Seemant Sehgal, BreachLock Inc.

Limit Data Collection From Smart Devices

One hidden risk is that smart devices can collect too much personal data. A TV, car or fitness app may track more than people realize. To reduce the risk, turn off data sharing you do not need and delete accounts for devices you no longer use. – Margarita Simonova, ILoveMyQA

Authenticate Machine-To-Machine Connections

Everyone secures the device. Almost no one secures what happens between devices. Machine-to-machine API calls now shadow human traffic operating on inherited trust with zero oversight. One compromised handshake cascades everywhere. The fix: Extend zero trust to the device layer. If it connects, it authenticates. Every single time. – Kiran Bhujle, SVAM International Inc.

Extend Governance To Messaging Platforms

As more devices connect, work is moving into apps like WhatsApp, Signal and WeChat, often replacing email but without the same enterprise protections. This creates an overlooked attack surface. A practical fix is to extend governance, monitoring and capture to these channels. – Dima Gutzeit, LeapXpert

Replace Default Credentials Before Devices Connect

Default credentials on connected devices are still the most underestimated Internet of Things risk. Most devices ship with insecure defaults, can’t be patched, and become botnet infrastructure or lateral movement vectors. The fix is simple but rarely done: Mandate credential rotation and firmware validation before any device joins the network. Treat every connected device as untrusted until proven otherwise. – Diptamay Sanyal, Crowdstrike

Update And Isolate Device Firmware

A commonly underestimated risk is unsecured firmware in IoT devices, which can be exploited silently at scale. Unlike apps, firmware often goes unpatched. Enforcing automatic firmware updates and network-level isolation can significantly reduce exposure and prevent compromised devices from becoming entry points into larger systems. – Govinda Rao Banothu, Cognizant Technology Solutions

Manage Identity Sprawl Across Connected Environments

I see identity sprawl as an underestimated risk as more devices and services connect. Each integration expands access paths that are rarely governed consistently. Enforcing centralized identity management and continuous access review reduces exposure and helps maintain control as environments scale. – Natasha Bryan, AlphaRidge

Strengthen Access Controls Against AI-Driven Social Engineering

Social engineering has become more sophisticated, especially with the introduction of AI. Without proper access controls and permission structures within the environment, threat actors have more exposure to sensitive and business-critical data each time their social engineering efforts are successful. – Kathleen Erickson, Holland America Line

Limit AI Agent Permissions

Enterprises using agentic AI in digital workflows must consider how they delegate agency from humans to systems. Autonomy enhances execution, but as threat actors use AI tools to exploit vulnerabilities at machine speed, agents become high-value targets. If compromised, broad permissions can amplify breaches. Assign distinct identities and limit access to required systems to reduce the attack surface. – Fletcher Keister, GTT Communications, Inc.

Separate IoT Devices From Core Networks

IoT devices like office printers, cameras, smart speakers and TVs are cyber risks. Most are built without security in mind and rarely receive updates, making them easy targets. The fix is keeping them isolated. At work, put them on a dedicated VLAN, and use a designated guest Wi-Fi at home. – Matthew Polega, Mark43

Treat Cybersecurity As An Ongoing Process

One underestimated risk is the “set it and forget it” mindset around security. As systems evolve and new integrations are added, controls that were once effective can quietly become outdated. A practical way to reduce this risk is to treat security as an ongoing process, with regular reviews of configurations, access controls and connected systems to ensure nothing slips through the cracks. – Judit Sharon, OnPage Corporation

Close The Remediation Gap

The most underestimated risk is the speed gap. AI attackers exploit vulnerabilities in hours, while organizations take weeks to respond. The real danger isn’t detection—it’s the delay in remediation. Teams must shift from reporting to action: Prioritize high-risk exposures and automate fixes. It’s no longer human versus machine—it’s machine versus machine. – Steve Carter, Nucleus Security

Map Hidden Third-Party Dependencies

Most organizations lack a full understanding of where third-party services are embedded in their processes and systems. A practical step is to move beyond single-point-in-time vendor assessments and continuously map how third parties support critical business operations. This will uncover hidden dependencies and ensure response efforts are aligned to business priorities before disruptions spread. – Michael Campbell, Fusion Risk Management

Remove Forgotten Connected Devices

The cyber risk too many people underestimate is the forgotten connected device: an old router, smart camera, printer, thermostat or IoT sensor that quietly sits on the network with weak security. The practical fix is blunt but effective: Change default passwords, update firmware, isolate IoT devices on a separate network, and remove anything you no longer use. – Mark Vena, SmartTech Research

Recognize That Everyone Is A Cyber Target

One underestimated risk is the general public’s belief that only large organizations or high-profile people are targets. In reality, connected devices, email, social accounts and home networks are often attacked opportunistically. A practical way to reduce risk is to enable multifactor authentication, keep devices updated and remove unused apps or accounts. – Craig Hamill, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

Audit Stale Access And Unsafe Network Practices

A volunteer logged into a nonprofit’s fundraising CRM from public Wi-Fi on a personal laptop with admin access she stopped needing two years ago. Nobody noticed. That is the risk. Not sophisticated hacking: forgotten access, open networks and zero boundaries. The fix? Audit who has access to what, revoke what is stale, and make public Wi-Fi a policy conversation, not an IT footnote. – Tal Frankfurt, Cloud for Good

Minimize Autonomous Permissions Across Connected Systems

The most underestimated risk is over-connected autonomy—devices and services acting on behalf of users with broad, persistent permissions. One compromised node can trigger cascading actions. A practical fix: Enforce “permission minimization by default” and regularly audit what systems can do autonomously, not just what they can access. – Mateusz Przepiorkowski, Appsfactory International