ihiji, citing recent exploits targeting connected devices often found in residential installations, has added new security scanning and firmware management features to its platform.
The company recently conducted an audit that found that, of dealer-managed networks with active ihiji Invision service, 40 percent of them have at least one port open. These ports were often associated with unsecured communication protocols and many of them were commonly used for home automation systems or security camera systems. Ihiji’s new security scanning service allows technology professionals to get insights into what vulnerabilities might exist on each of the client networks they manage. Scanning each network for open ports or known exploits on a regular basis will ensure the networks are as secure as possible.
“Ports are opened and left opened for a variety of reasons, some of them may be legitimate, some of them may be historical artifacts, and others may be due to human error or oversight,” said Stuart Rench, CEO of Ihiji. “The new Ihiji security scanning service allows network administrators to stay on top of these potential security threats.”
Ihiji provides customer-facing reports that the dealer can then send to their clients on a periodic basis to give them peace of mind and show their value. Many technology professionals are considering adding these security scans and reports as part of their standard managed service plans.
To help home electronics manufacturers overcome the challenge of firmware management and patching, Ihiji is also launching a manufacturer database and notification service as part of the new Ihiji Vendor Insights Program (VIP). The VIP allows manufacturers to easily communicate current device firmware to both the Ihiji Invision platform and also as part of the new Ihiji Device Visibility Protocol (DVP).
As part of VIP, Ihiji has released a remote monitoring and management standard for the industry to help manufacturers increase visibility into their devices. The firmware database allows device manufacturers to post updates to the database when new software updates are released for their products. Combining the manufacturer database and device insights, Ihiji can work with manufacturers to communicate the availability of new and critical firmware updates.
Technology professionals can look for additions of the new security features in Ihiji’s regular product updates which require no manual work by the dealer and no additional fees. The new security features will be included for dealers for as part of Ihiji’s Invision Standard subscription.