The average small office now runs more connected devices than most owners realise: security cameras, Wi-Fi routers, printers, smart TVs, door locks, thermostats, badge readers, and voice assistants. Each one is a tiny computer connected to your network. If it is poorly protected, it can become an entry point to everything else.
This guide shows you how to secure the smart devices in your business in seven practical steps, with no IT department required. It builds on our small business cybersecurity guide, which covers the broader basics.
Quick summary: Make a list of every connected device, change default passwords, update firmware, put smart devices on a separate network, turn off features you don't use, lock down remote access, and buy products with a clear security support commitment.
Why Smart Devices Are a Weak Spot
Smart devices are attractive to attackers for a few reasons:
- They are often forgotten. Nobody logs into a printer or camera every day, so problems go unnoticed.
- They ship with weak settings. Default passwords, open services, and unneeded features are common. Default passwords, unpatched firmware, and unencrypted traffic remain the easiest ways attackers get in.
- They rarely get updated. Unlike laptops, most devices don't nag you to patch.
- They can't run security software. You can't install antivirus on a camera.
- They can be recruited into botnets. Compromised cameras and routers are often used to attack others without the owner ever knowing.
An exposed camera isn't just a privacy risk. It can give attackers a foothold inside your network, a place to hide, and a path to your computers and files.
Step 1: Make an Inventory of Every Connected Device
You can't protect what you don't know exists. Walk through your premises and list everything with a network or Wi-Fi connection. Record the device type, make and model, location, who is responsible for it, and when it was last updated. Check your router's connected-devices list for anything you don't recognise.
Include less obvious items: smart TVs in meeting rooms, conference-room systems, VoIP phones, smart plugs, badge readers, point-of-sale terminals, and building systems run by landlords or vendors. Keep the list somewhere safe and update it whenever you add or remove equipment.
Step 2: Change Every Default Password
Factory usernames and passwords are published in manuals and online. Attackers scan the internet for devices still using them. Replace default credentials on every device before connecting it to the network. Use a long, unique password or passphrase for each device, stored in a password manager. Rename default admin usernames where the device allows it. Turn on multi-factor authentication for any device or cloud dashboard that supports it. If a device can't have its password changed, treat it as high risk and consider replacing it.
Step 3: Update Firmware, and Turn on Automatic Updates
Firmware is the software that runs the device. Manufacturers release updates to fix security flaws, but you have to install them. Check each device's admin page or app for firmware updates, and enable automatic updates where available. Register your products with the manufacturer so you receive security notices. Set a reminder to check devices without auto-update every month or quarter. Replace equipment that no longer receives updates. An unsupported device that stays online is a permanent open door.
Step 4: Separate Smart Devices from Your Business Network
This single change limits the damage if one device is compromised. It's called network segmentation. Create at least two separate networks: one for computers, servers, and payment systems, and another for cameras, printers, TVs, and other smart devices. Many business routers support VLANs. Smaller offices can use a guest or secondary Wi-Fi network for IoT devices. Block devices on the IoT network from reaching your main network, except for what they genuinely need (for example, letting computers print). Keep a third network for visitors. Never put payment terminals on the same network as cameras or smart TVs.
If a camera on the IoT network is compromised, the attacker can't easily reach your accounting files. Without segmentation, a hacked smart TV in the meeting room can be a direct path to your financial systems.
Step 5: Turn Off What You Don't Use
Every feature is another potential weakness. Reduce the attack surface:
- Disable UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) on your router. It can automatically open ports to the internet without you realising.
- Turn off remote access, Telnet, and old protocols such as SMBv1 if you don't need them.
- Disable unused services, guest accounts, and demo modes.
- Switch off Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) on routers.
- Disconnect devices you no longer use, rather than leaving them powered and online.
Step 6: Secure Remote Access
Being able to check your cameras from your phone is convenient, but it's also how many devices get found and attacked. Never expose a device directly to the internet by forwarding ports. Use a VPN or the manufacturer's secure cloud service with MFA. Use strong, unique credentials on the mobile app and the cloud account that controls your devices. Review who has access, and remove former employees and contractors straight away. Turn on login alerts if the service offers them.
Step 7: Monitor and Know What Normal Looks Like
Review your router or firewall logs periodically for unusual activity, such as a printer connecting to servers overseas. Watch for warning signs: sudden slowness, devices rebooting, unfamiliar settings, or unexplained data usage. Set up alerts for new devices joining the network. If something looks wrong, disconnect the device, reset it to factory settings, update it, and set a new password before reconnecting.
Device-by-Device Quick Tips
| Device | Key Risks | Top Actions |
|---|---|---|
| IP cameras and doorbells | Default passwords, exposed video feeds, cloud account takeover | Unique password, MFA on the cloud account, no port forwarding, update firmware |
| Routers and firewalls | Default admin login, outdated firmware, UPnP, open remote admin | Change admin password, update, disable UPnP and WPS, disable remote admin |
| Printers and scanners | Unpatched flaws, stored documents, open services | Update firmware, set an admin password, put on the IoT network, disable unused protocols |
| Smart TVs and conference-room systems | Microphones and cameras, always-on connection, weak updates | Separate network, disable unneeded cameras and mics, turn on updates |
| Smart locks and access control | Cloud account compromise, weak credentials | MFA, regular access reviews, update firmware |
| VoIP phones | Eavesdropping, toll fraud | Strong admin password, separate VLAN, restrict remote provisioning |
| Smart speakers and voice assistants | Always-listening microphones in sensitive spaces | Keep out of confidential meeting rooms, review privacy settings |
How to Buy Smarter: Choosing Secure Connected Devices
Security starts before you purchase. Before buying any smart device for your business, ask:
- How long will it receive security updates? Look for a clearly stated support period. Under the EU Cyber Resilience Act, manufacturers selling in the EU are now moving toward declared support periods and mandatory vulnerability handling.
- Does it force you to set a unique password instead of using a shared default?
- Does the maker publish security advisories and offer a way to report vulnerabilities?
- Does it support encryption and MFA for the app or cloud service?
- Is there a recognised security label or certification? In the US, the voluntary Cyber Trust Mark is designed to help buyers identify products that meet baseline security criteria.
- Can it work without the cloud, or what happens if the vendor shuts down the service?
If you are curious about what good looks like from the manufacturer's side, read our IoT security checklist for manufacturers.
What to Do When You Retire a Device
- Perform a factory reset and remove stored data, Wi-Fi passwords, and saved accounts.
- Remove the device from your cloud accounts and apps.
- Recycle it responsibly. Printers and recorders can hold copies of documents and footage.
- Update your inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I secure smart devices in my office?
Start with an inventory of every connected device, change all default passwords, update firmware, and put the devices on a separate network from your computers. Then disable features you don't use and secure any remote access with a VPN or MFA.
Can a security camera or printer really be hacked?
Yes. Cameras, printers, and routers are frequent targets because they often have default passwords, outdated firmware, and no security software. A compromised device can leak footage or documents, be used in botnet attacks, or serve as a stepping stone into your network.
What is network segmentation, and why does it matter for IoT?
Network segmentation means splitting your network into separate zones so that devices in one zone can't freely talk to devices in another. Placing smart devices on their own network means that if one is compromised, the attacker can't easily reach your computers, servers, or payment systems.
Should I put IoT devices on a guest Wi-Fi network?
A separate network is a good, low-cost starting point for small offices, and a guest network is the simplest way to create one. Keep it separate from the guest network that visitors use if possible, and make sure it can't access your main business network. For larger setups, use VLANs with firewall rules.
How often should I update the firmware on business devices?
Turn on automatic updates wherever possible. For devices without them, check at least every one to three months, and any time the manufacturer announces a security fix.
How do I find all the devices on my network?
Check the connected-devices list in your router or firewall admin page. Free network scanning tools can also help, and your internet provider or IT contractor may be able to do a scan. Compare what you find with your physical inventory.
What should I do with a device that no longer gets updates?
If it can't be updated, replace it. If you can't replace it right away, isolate it on its own network with no access to important systems, disable remote access, and plan for its replacement.
Is a VPN enough to protect IoT devices?
A VPN protects remote access, but it doesn't fix weak passwords, missing updates, or poor network design. Use it alongside strong credentials, updates, segmentation, and monitoring.
Conclusion: Protect the Devices You Forgot About
Smart devices make business life easier, but they need the same care as any computer. Start this week with your inventory and your passwords, then move to updates and network separation. Those steps handle the majority of everyday risk.
For the bigger picture — including MFA, backups, and staff training — follow our small business cybersecurity guide.
Not sure what's connected to your network? CyberKartel can help you audit your devices and set up a safer network.