IoT Security Behind Firewalls: Best Practices & Solutions [Guide]

Terry Kiehn 09 May 2025

Are you truly confident in the security of your Internet of Things (IoT) devices? The stark truth is this: managing IoT devices behind a firewall isn't merely a suggestion, it's an indispensable shield protecting your sensitive data and preserving your digital privacy. In an era where interconnected devices are proliferating at an unprecedented rate, understanding the intricacies of safeguarding these devices has never been more critical.

This article serves as a comprehensive guide, meticulously dissecting the complexities of managing Internet of Things (IoT) devices securely, with a particular emphasis on the critical role of firewalls and other network barriers. As the digital landscape evolves, the sheer volume of interconnected devices introduces a myriad of security vulnerabilities that demand immediate and effective countermeasures. A robust firewall for IoT devices acts as an impenetrable protective barrier, standing between these devices and the treacherous external network, encompassing the vast expanse of the internet and potentially vulnerable local networks. Functioning as a vigilant sentinel, the firewall meticulously monitors and controls both incoming and outgoing traffic to and from IoT devices, ensuring that only authorized communication is permitted. This proactive approach significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and other malicious activities that could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of your data.

Category	Information
Topic	Managing IoT Devices Securely Behind a Firewall
Relevance	Critical for data security and privacy in the era of interconnected devices.
Key Concepts	Firewalls, IoT security, network barriers, traffic monitoring, best practices, device authentication, software updates, vulnerability management.
Importance	Safeguards against unauthorized access, data breaches, and malicious activities targeting IoT devices.
Reference	NIST Cybersecurity for IoT Program

However, the path to secure IoT management isn't always straightforward. A common dilemma arises when onboarding new, unidentified devices onto the network. A practical initial step involves granting these devices default network access, allowing them to establish their normal operational behavior. This period of observation is crucial, as it enables sophisticated IoT security systems to meticulously analyze their network activity and accurately identify their unique characteristics. Once the device's behavior has been profiled, the firewall can then enforce finely-tuned policy rules governing traffic to and from these devices. These rules are typically based on a variety of device identification attributes, including device category, profile, vendor, model, operating system family, or operating system version. By leveraging these attributes, organizations can implement a granular security approach, ensuring that each device is subject to appropriate access controls and security measures.

The expansion of the attack surface is an inevitable consequence of the widespread adoption of IoT devices. Each new device connected to the network represents a potential entry point for malicious actors, demanding a proactive and comprehensive security strategy. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to develop and diligently adhere to IoT security best practices. These practices serve as a foundational framework for protecting devices, users, and the entire network from ever-evolving cyber threats. A layered security approach, encompassing both device-level and network-level safeguards, is essential for mitigating risks effectively. IoT security begins with implementing robust security measures directly on the devices themselves, followed by securing the broader network environment to create a multi-layered defense against potential attacks.

A cornerstone of effective IoT security is the strategic deployment of one or more firewalls at key points within the network where they can monitor traffic originating from IoT devices. For instance, given that most IoT devices within enterprise environments connect to central servers, placing firewalls in locations that oversee traffic between these devices and the servers whether they reside in private data centers or the cloud is a highly effective strategy. This allows for comprehensive monitoring and enforcement of security policies, preventing unauthorized access and data exfiltration. Furthermore, IoT security necessitates the collection of network traffic data for in-depth analysis. By analyzing network traffic patterns, security professionals can identify anomalies, detect suspicious behavior, and proactively respond to potential threats before they can cause significant damage.

For organizations seeking to remotely access and manage IoT devices situated behind a firewall, connecting IoT devices via Virtual Network Computing (VNC) offers a secure and efficient solution. This method allows users to view and control a device's desktop remotely, providing secure access to the device's interface and enabling effective management and troubleshooting capabilities. Moreover, secure communication protocols such as Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) are essential for transmitting commands to IoT devices behind a firewall. These protocols provide encryption and authentication mechanisms that protect sensitive data during transmission, ensuring that commands are only executed by authorized devices and users. These protocols meticulously control incoming and outgoing network traffic, utilizing predefined rules to maintain security and prevent potentially devastating data breaches.

Monitoring IoT devices behind a firewall presents a unique set of challenges, making the implementation of effective strategies absolutely crucial. As the number of connected devices continues to grow exponentially, so does the complexity of managing their security. In this regard, Fortigate firewalls emerge as a comprehensive solution, offering advanced features specifically designed to address the unique challenges of IoT device protection. These features include granular access control, intrusion detection and prevention, application control, and advanced threat intelligence, providing organizations with a robust security posture against a wide range of IoT-related threats. The Australian Signals Directorates Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASDs ACSC) has published comprehensive guidance, including executive and practitioner-level documentation, outlining mitigation strategies and best practices for securing, hardening, and managing edge devices, providing valuable insights for organizations seeking to bolster their IoT security.

Before integrating IoT or smart home devices, such as smart lights, plugs, and security cameras, into your network behind a firewall, it's essential to address their often-questionable security track record. One effective approach is to isolate these devices on separate Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs). This segmentation strategy limits the potential impact of a security breach on one device from spreading to other devices on the network. Shockingly, even medical devices are now being shipped with inherent security vulnerabilities, highlighting the critical need for rigorous testing and security assessments before deploying any IoT device within a healthcare environment. Therefore, adherence to IoT security best practices is paramount, ensuring the protection of devices, users, and the network as a whole from an ever-increasing array of cyber threats. This begins with implementing best practices to safeguard devices, followed by securing the broader network environment.

In an age where smart devices are rapidly permeating every facet of our lives, from smart homes to connected vehicles, the question of remotely accessing your Internet of Things (IoT) devices while they reside securely behind a firewall becomes increasingly relevant. What are the optimal strategies for achieving this balance between accessibility and security? To answer this question, organizations must embrace a multi-faceted approach that encompasses strong authentication, secure communication protocols, and robust network segmentation. Here are seven critical IoT security practices that can significantly strengthen your overall security strategy: 1. Implement strong authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication, to verify the identity of users and devices. 2. Utilize secure communication protocols, such as Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure Shell (SSH), to encrypt data in transit and prevent eavesdropping. 3. Segment your network into multiple zones, isolating IoT devices from critical business systems and sensitive data. 4. Regularly update device firmware and software to patch security vulnerabilities and address known exploits. 5. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate security weaknesses. 6. Implement intrusion detection and prevention systems to monitor network traffic for malicious activity and automatically block or quarantine suspicious devices. 7. Establish a comprehensive incident response plan to quickly and effectively address security breaches and minimize their impact.

The growing demand for connected products is undeniably increasing the complexity of device security. New IoT security regulations are adding further challenges to the already demanding landscape faced by engineering leaders. Tight deadlines and limited budgets can often lead to IoT security practices being overlooked or deprioritized, creating significant vulnerabilities that malicious actors can exploit. To mitigate these risks, it's essential to prioritize security from the outset of the design process, integrating security considerations into every stage of the product development lifecycle. Furthermore, organizations should leverage x.509 certificates to authenticate devices to IoT Hub or IoT Central, ensuring that only authorized devices can access sensitive data and resources. These certificates provide a strong cryptographic identity for each device, preventing unauthorized devices from impersonating legitimate ones.

Here is a list of the Top 10 IoT Security Practices. There are multiple security practices on the Internet of Things that are mainly used to protect the Internet of Things from vulnerabilities. Some of the Top 10 IoT Security Practices are mentioned below. 1. Regularly update the IoT devices. 2. Implement strong authentication and authorization mechanisms. 3. Encrypt data in transit and at rest. 4. Secure boot processes to prevent malicious code from loading during startup. 5. Implement secure over-the-air (OTA) update mechanisms. 6. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing. 7. Implement intrusion detection and prevention systems. 8. Implement a robust incident response plan. 9. Provide security awareness training to employees and users. 10. Comply with relevant security regulations and standards.

The proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) in business environments presents both unprecedented opportunities and significant risks. Implementing robust security measures is not merely a recommendation, but an absolute necessity as organizations increasingly leverage IoT to drive efficiency and innovation. The implementation of Fortigate firewalls offers a comprehensive solution for IoT device protection, providing advanced features meticulously tailored to address the unique challenges posed by the ever-evolving IoT landscape. These firewalls offer a wide range of security capabilities, including application control, web filtering, intrusion prevention, and advanced threat protection, enabling organizations to effectively mitigate IoT-related risks.

Next, we delve into the realm of port forwarding. While static IP addressing provides a reliable and consistent address for your devices, port forwarding essentially creates a 'doorway' through your router's firewall. This technique allows external devices to connect to specific services running on IoT devices behind the firewall, enabling remote access and control. However, due to the inherent security risks associated with directly exposing IoT devices to the internet, caution and careful configuration are crucial. As IoT devices installed behind a Network Address Translation (NAT) router and firewall cannot be directly accessed from the internet, port forwarding is often employed to facilitate remote access, but should only be used in conjunction with strong authentication and encryption mechanisms.

IoT security solutions empower IoT devices to efficiently manage tasks, significantly boost operational efficiency, and effectively drive digital transformation. However, as deployments continue to rise, IoT devices have increasingly emerged as an attractive attack vector for malicious actors. This is primarily due to the fact that many IoT devices are designed and deployed without adequate security considerations. To address this growing threat, an integrated IoT security strategy is absolutely essential to protect against the myriad threats that target IoT devices. This strategy should encompass device-level security, network-level security, and cloud-level security, providing a comprehensive defense against potential attacks. Recommended security best practices must be adopted and rigorously enforced to maintain a robust security posture.

Security Rating Model 18 April 2017: V1.0 Initial security checks available with FortiOS 5.6.0. V1.2 Renamed security fabric audit to security rating. Security checks available with FortiOS. MQTT servers should be set up in a DMZ and behind a firewall that only allows two inbound ports for connection. This configuration minimizes the attack surface by limiting the number of open ports, reducing the potential for unauthorized access.

Ensuring the security of IoT deployments demands a meticulous and unwavering focus on authenticating and authorizing devices. Robust authentication mechanisms are essential for verifying the identity of devices before granting them access to network resources. Similarly, authorization controls are necessary to ensure that devices only have access to the resources they need to perform their intended functions. It is absolutely vital that IoT devices and services have security designed in from the outset, rather than being bolted on as an afterthought. This "security by design" approach ensures that security considerations are integrated into every stage of the development process, from initial design to deployment and maintenance.

The IoT Security Foundations Best Practice Guides provide concise and essential advice on things to do to help secure IoT products and systems (but we leave the designer to decide how best to do it). Links are provided to further information and discussion. These guides offer practical and actionable recommendations for developers and manufacturers, helping them to build more secure IoT devices and systems. A company's internet of things firewall solutions use behavioral analytics and machine learning to identify and stop sophisticated attacks that aim to compromise connected devices. By continuously monitoring network traffic and analyzing device behavior, these solutions can detect anomalies and automatically respond to potential threats.

Offering a specialized IoT firewall solution meticulously crafted to protect linked devices and the networks they are connected to, it specializes in Internet of Things security, addressing the unique challenges and vulnerabilities of the IoT ecosystem. To connect to your IoT device via SSH, you'll need the following: This is software installed on your computer that enables you to connect to the IoT device securely. The IoT devices IP address or hostname: This identifies your device on the network. Always ensure your IoT devices IP address is correct to avoid connection issues.

To ensure both IoT device security and broader IoT network security, consider these best practices: Consistently keep up to date with device and software updates. When purchasing an IoT device, diligently check that the vendor provides regular updates and consistently apply them as soon as they become available. Software updates are an essential factor in maintaining a robust IoT device security posture, patching vulnerabilities, and preventing exploitation.