Hogan Lovells’ Winnik International Telecoms & Internet Forum  explored how the Internet of Things (IoT) may continue to expand the scope of cybersecurity concerns.  Cybersecurity risks for the IoT were previously synonymous with enterprise products.  Now these risks extend to consumer devices, services and applications.

According to cybersecurity leaders attending the forum, the IoT market needs new, market-driven approaches to cybersecurity given the number of at-risk IoT products and services.  Travis LeBlanc, Chief of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Enforcement Bureau, said while the number of IoT devices has exploded, the existing 500 million IoT devices with outdated security features are “not going anywhere.”  According to LeBlanc, “government needs to incentivize the entire [IoT] community because individual networks may not be affected.” LeBlanc reviewed various government initiatives from the FCC, Federal Trade Commission, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.  He said innovation is outpacing regulation.  According to LeBlanc, government should not over-regulate because doing so would restrain innovation.  He added that, while achieving perfectly secure devices and networks is impossible, industry and government can better manage risks through collaboration, consumer education, and multi-national efforts to confront global cybersecurity threats.