What is Hardware Security?
Hardware security means protecting physical devices, like servers, routers, and USB devices, from tampering or cyberattacks. It ensures that devices and the data they handle stay safe, available, and trustworthy.
Hardware security is addressed at the physical layer by Sepio’s Asset Risk Management (ARM). Sepio provides complete visibility into all connected assets on enterprise networks. This enables hardware-based risk management and strengthens the security of hardware assets by detecting and mitigating threats posed by malicious devices. Sepio allows you to block USB ports and disable risky assets connected via network interfaces in real-time using easily adjustable policies or default settings. Moreover, Sepio can be implemented gradually, starting with inventory visibility, followed by risk visibility, and culminating in the enforcement of specific security policies.
Network, Endpoint and Hardware Security
While hardware security works alongside network and endpoint security, each plays a different role.
- Network Security protects the flow of data and communication across networks, safeguarding against unauthorized access, data interception, and attacks like DDoS or man-in-the-middle.
- Endpoint Security focuses on securing individual devices such as laptops, smartphones, and desktops from malware, unauthorized access, and exploitation.
- Hardware Security focuses on protecting the physical components of your IT infrastructure, including servers, routers, switches, and IoT devices. It involves securing the hardware itself against tampering, unauthorized devices, hardware-based attacks, and ensuring the integrity and trustworthiness of physical devices.
Hardware Attack Tools
Hardware security is often overlooked compared to software protection, yet it remains critical for defending physical components from cyberattacks. Rogue devices, commonly referred to as hardware attack tools, can bypass traditional cybersecurity software and go undetected. This false sense of security leaves companies vulnerable to hardware-based attacks and potential data leaks.
Adding a hardware cybersecurity solution to enterprise networks is important for finding and stopping rogue device attacks, especially ones targeting the physical layer.
This blog explores various cybersecurity hardware risks, including supply chain attacks, hardware implants, and unauthorized peripherals. It also shows how Sepio’s platform strengthens defenses by finding and reducing risks through real time monitoring and comprehensive hardware asset analysis.
Validating the Security of a Hardware Device
Unlike traditional cybersecurity tools that focus on scanning peripheral connections, Sepio analyzes the intrinsic Hardware Bill of Material (HBOM) a detailed list of hardware components. This involves identifying the physical profile of each hardware device during its connection at the physical layer. This unique capability enables Sepio to discover and profile all connected peripheral devices comprehensively. It also allows the detection of potentially malicious USB devices, even those hidden within legitimate USB hardware. Effective network security also depends on vigilant monitoring to protect devices from tampering and unauthorized access.
Hardware security is at the core of Sepio’s Asset DNA technology, which operates at the physical layer and focuses on device existence rather than behavior. This approach effectively detects all managed, unmanaged, and hidden devices.
By leveraging innovative methods and machine learning algorithms, Sepio identifies the true source of asset risk, eliminating misconceptions caused by false profiles and behavioral assumptions.
Sepio’s platform ranks assets by their risk levels and applies precise access controls. It automatically blocks devices that break established rules or are known attack tools. This ensures hardware-level threats are stopped before causing any harm.
Complete Hardware Asset Inventory for Stronger Security
Hardware security requires maintaining a comprehensive inventory of all hardware-connected devices on a network.
Sepio provides full visibility into:
- All IT/OT/IoT/IoXT assets without probing network traffic.
- Unmanaged or shadow IT devices.
- Hidden or unauthorized hardware.
Sepio’s platform stands out in the field of hardware cybersecurity by conducting a comprehensive audit of an organization’s entire hardware ecosystem. Additionally, a hardware risk indicator is used to assess actions or activities that could harm organizational assets. Furthermore, the Sepio platform provides enterprises with a risk score ranging from 1 to 9, where 9 represents a high security risk and 1 indicates a low-risk posture.
Hardware Security: Protecting Against Hardware-Based Attacks
Phishing schemes often manipulate employees into actions that compromise security, such as plugging in BadUSB drives or clicking links that deploy malware. Investing in security training helps employees identify and defend against these threats, protecting hardware assets from compromise.
While companies strengthen defenses against traditional cyberattacks, hardware security often remains overlooked, leaving it vulnerable to covert hardware attacks. Rogue devices, like USB HID-emulating tools or physical layer network implants, can bypass detection by existing solutions, including Network Access Control (NAC), Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), and IoT network security tools.
Sepio brings visibility and clarity to network-connected hardware, thereby enhancing hardware cybersecurity risk awareness. However, the absence of effective hardware-focused security solutions often results in unnoticed vulnerabilities and a false sense of security. Consequently, Sepio’s platform highlights the importance of hardware security across enterprise networks, ensuring that risks from connected assets are properly addressed.
Hardware security is critical in protecting your network from hardware-based attacks that can compromise its integrity. Learn more about these attacks and how they threaten your hardware security. For further insights, explore our comprehensive guide on hardware cybersecurity.
Prioritize and Mitigate Hardware Asset Risks
Having comprehensive visibility into all network assets is a crucial prerequisite for effective hardware defense. However, the value of this knowledge lies in its practical application. Sepio’s ARM enables you to promptly discern which network devices require attention. Leveraging Asset DNA technology and policy rules, it provides alerts for high, medium, and low risks, expediting time to resolution, identifying regulatory gaps, and foiling hardware attack tools.
The real time actionable visibility offered by Sepio enables your security experts to gain a deeper understanding of your device attack surface and, as a result, proactively manage hardware defense. Moreover, stopping social-engineering attacks and denial-of-service attempts is a key aspect of securing enterprise infrastructure. Therefore, having clear visibility and control over hardware assets is essential for your overall security posture.
Improve Your Hardware Cybersecurity
Gain a comprehensive understanding of your enterprise’s hardware cybersecurity posture with Sepio assessment. Uncover weaknesses, make informed adjustments, and improve your overall security posture. Explore the power of Sepio and the valuable risk insights it provides for improved network hardware security.
Talk to an expert. It will help you understand how to use Sepio’s patented technology to gain control of your asset risks.
