34. Segmentation for Embedded Systems and IoT

An embedded system is a computer built into a larger system to perform a limited set of specific functions. It is designed for a particular purpose rather than general computing.

These devices often appear in products such as printers, smart TVs, HVAC controls, smart appliances, thermostats, and medical devices.

A network-enabled device is a device that can connect to a network using built-in network capability. This includes devices such as phones, tablets, smart TVs, network printers, and similar connected equipment.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the collection of connected devices that communicate over the internet and can monitor or affect the physical world.

Because embedded systems and IoT devices often control physical functions, a security breach can affect not just data but also people, property, and operations.

These devices may connect through different paths such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth, so they need extra protection.

A key control is network segmentation. IoT and embedded devices should be isolated from other parts of the network using methods such as VLANs, filtering, routing, and access control rules.

Main Idea
Embedded systems and IoT devices are specialized connected devices that can create security risk, so they should be isolated and tightly controlled on the network.