Zscaler ThreatLabz 2023 Enterprise IoT and OT Threat Report

This proliferation of devices and smart technology also represents more opportunities to be exploited by cybercriminals — turning IoT connectivity into a potentially inconvenient or, even worse, devastating reality. To help organizations better understand the current IoT landscape and how to protect their corporate networks, the Zscaler ThreatLabz research team analyzed device traffic and IoT malware data from the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange, the world’s largest inline security cloud.

Over the course of three months, the ThreatLabz team identified 3 trillion IoT device transactions from 850+ unique device types. The highest volume of IoT device traffic came from the manufacturing industry — a sign of the times as manufacturers adopt smart technology to meet modern requirements for speedy supply chain fulfillment and innovation.

An in-depth look at malware activity over a six-month period found approximately 300,000 blocked attacks from known IoT.

This represents a 400% increase in IoT malware attacks compared to the previous year (January–June 2022). Zscaler researchers discovered that the Mirai and Gafgyt botnets continue to drive the rise in IoT malware attacks. As more organizations and individuals rely on internet-connected devices, the responsibility of minimizing security risks and vulnerabilities is largely in their hands. Regulatory frameworks and guidelines for device manufacturers are in the works, but are still in the nascent stages.

The Zscaler ThreatLabz 2023 Enterprise IoT and OT Threat Report will give you valuable insights into the state of IoT threats and the best practices for protecting your organization. The report also offers strategies to ensure the resilience of OT environments, spotlighting the convergence of IoT and OT driven by digital transformation in critical sectors such as manufacturing and utilities.