Episode 250: Window Snyder of Thistle on Making IoT Security Easy

In this episode of the podcast, I speak with Window Snyder (@window), the founder and CEO of Thistle Technologies about the (many) security challenges facing Internet of Things (IoT) devices and her idea for making things better: Thistle’s platform for secure development and deployment of IoT devices. [Video Podcast] | [MP3] | [Transcript] The growth of the Internet of Things is one of the most significant developments in information technology over the last two decades. During that time our homes, workplaces and public spaces have become populated with a wide range of smart, software driven, and Internet connected devices ranging from printers to cameras and home appliances.  It’s no surprise that cyber threats and attacks followed. A recent report from Cisco found that the growth of the internet of things (IoT) and connected devices was the biggest contributing factors to organizations’ expanding attack surfaces.  The Future of IoT Security Standards IoT security: old-school in the worst way Part of the reason that IoT insecurity is such a big problem is that device makers and the development organizations that serve them have struggled to learn the lessons of the last 30 years. Embedded software running smart devices in everything from homes and businesses to critical infrastructure repeat many of the same mistakes – from buffer overflows and SQL injection to weak authentication schemes – that characterized earlier generations of software and services.  Episode 241: If Its Smart, Its Vulnerable a Conversation with Mikko Hyppönen Given how widespread the issues are with device security, how can we possibly hope to fix this urgent problem? Our guest on this week’s podcast thinks she has a solution. Rather than wagging a finger at IoT device makers (tempting though that is), why not provide them with the tools, technology and support to make developing secure, embedded devices easier?  Making IoT security easier Window Snyder is the CEO and founder of Thistle Technologies, a start-up seeking to help secure Internet of Things devices. In February, Thistle announced the launch of the Thistle Security Platform, a set of tools and services that bring software updates and other security functionality to the world of embedded devices. While there is no “silver bullet” to securing the IoT, Window argues, giving development organizations the tools and support they need to make smart security decisions about things like usin...