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Case Study

ISO27001

Navigating Security and Compliance Challenges in the IoT Ecosystem

The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming industries by connecting billions of devices, enabling real-time data exchange, and driving innovation across sectors such as healthcare, smart cities, and industrial automation. However, as IoT networks expand, they introduce significant security risks. Businesses using IoT technologies must navigate challenges around data security, privacy, and compliance, making cybersecurity a top priority.

RAKwireless, a global leader in designing and producing innovative IoT solutions, offers a robust portfolio of IoT modules, LoRaWAN gateways, and ready-to-deploy node devices. These products are used by both IoT developers and deployers, supporting their needs across industries like industrial automation and agriculture. As RAKwireless’s market presence grew, it became clear that enhancing product security was critical—not just to protect customers’ data, but to maintain the company’s reputation as a trusted provider in the IoT space.

Problem Overview:

With enterprise clients like The Things Industries, RAKwireless recognized the increasing demand for robust security and compliance. Their rapid growth, driven by popular B2B and B2C product launches, created a pressing need to scale security measures across both their products and the entire organization.

Key challenges RAKwireless faced:

Frequent phishing and hacking attempts: Like many companies in the IoT space, RAKwireless faced regular attacks from hackers and phishing campaigns targeting both system vulnerabilities and people. Without effective detection, response mechanisms, and employee awareness, these threats could compromise systems, putting data integrity and operational continuity at serious risk.

Vendor assessments and RFIs for enterprise clients:​

As RAKwireless continues to expand with enterprise customers, it faces frequent vendor assessments and requests for information (RFIs). Failure to meet client security standards during these evaluations could jeopardize potential business partnerships and contracts.

Addressing GDPR requirements for the European market:

As RAKwireless expanded into the EU, ensuring GDPR compliance became crucial. The regulation’s strict data privacy standards required the company to implement robust security and privacy-by-design principles to protect customer data. Failure to comply could result in heavy fines and hinder market access, making GDPR alignment essential for operating in Europe.

Lack of a centralized, risk-based and budget-conscious approach to security: Although RAKwireless had implemented security measures like secure software development and regular penetration testing in the past, they lacked a unified, company-wide, risk-based approach. This resulted in addressing immediate gaps rather than taking a holistic, budget-wise strategy, often following best practices without prioritizing the most critical risks.

Key Results

Enhanced Employee Awareness and Incident Management Processes

The implementation of employee security awareness programs and a structured incident management process has greatly enhanced RAKwireless' ability to respond to security events. Team members now have a clear understanding of their roles and the specific procedures for addressing incidents, enabling the company to react swiftly and efficiently to any security threats.

Competitive Advantage and New Opportunities

Not every organization opts to pursue ISO 27001 certification due to the extra steps and additional costs. By setting themselves apart positively, RAKwireless enhanced existing client relationships, drew in new customers, and increased their market share. This opened up a plethora of new business opportunities for RAKwireless.

The collaboration with Sekurno and the implementation of the ISO 27001 framework yielded significant benefits for RAKwireless, addressing the company’s key security challenges:

GDPR Compliance through ISO 27001 Controls

Implementing ISO 27001 security controls has established a strong baseline for RAKwireless to comply with GDPR Article 32, which requires appropriate technical and organizational measures for securing data processing. This alignment ensures the protection of customer data, particularly in the European market, while minimizing the risk of regulatory penalties and supporting continuous improvement in data security.

Centralized and Risk-Based Security Strategy

The adoption of a centralized, risk-based approach to security has enabled RAKwireless to prioritize current risks more effectively while ensuring a budget-conscious allocation of resources. This strategy not only optimized the company’s spending on critical security measures but also allowed them to continuously improve their security posture by addressing emerging threats and vulnerabilities in a systematic and cost-efficient manner.

Solution

Key milestones of the implementation journey included:

Sekurno led a strategic Gap Assessment aligned with the ISO 27001 framework, identifying critical security vulnerabilities and implementing essential controls across organizational, personnel, physical, and technological domains. Over 12 months, Sekurno guided RAKwireless through a structured transformation, culminating in a much-anticipated ISO 27001 certification audited by a third-party firm.

Gap Assessment

Sekurno conducted a comprehensive Gap Assessment to evaluate RAKwireless’ current security posture against ISO 27001 requirements. Identified gaps were prioritized based on risk impact, forming a clear roadmap for remediation.

Provided RAKwireless with a structured path to ISO 27001 compliance, ensuring a focused approach to closing security gaps and enhancing overall security resilience.

Risk Assessment & Treatment

 Sekurno conducted an in-depth risk assessment, mapping RAKwireless’ operational landscape to uncover vulnerabilities and emerging threats. A tailored risk mitigation strategy was designed, integrating industry-best security controls.

Enabled RAKwireless to systematically address security deficiencies, reduce exposure to threats, and establish a proactive approach to risk management, ensuring business continuity and resilience.

Documentation Development

Sekurno developed and institutionalized security policies and procedures customized to RAKwireless’ business model, ensuring compliance with ISO 27001 while embedding security into daily operations.

Established a robust governance framework, reducing compliance risks, improving internal efficiencies, and demonstrating regulatory alignment to stakeholders and partners.

Information Security Tools & Solutions:

Given the typically high cost of advanced security tools, Sekurno carefully selected, tested, and configured solutions that were tailored to RAKwireless’ specific risks and budget requirements. This approach ensured that RAKwireless received the most effective tools to enhance their security posture while aligning with their financial expectations.

Enhanced security infrastructure with scalable solutions, balancing robust protection with cost efficiency, and meeting stringent enterprise security expectations.

Regular Penetration Testing & Vulnerability Scanning

Sekurno expanded RAKwireless’ security testing framework by incorporating continuous vulnerability scanning across internal and external systems alongside existing penetration testing protocols.

Strengthened threat detection and remediation by enabling early identification of vulnerabilities and threats, minimizing the likelihood of breaches and improving compliance with enterprise security requirements. This approach ensured that no critical or high-severity issues compromised essential business operations of RAKwireless.

Information Security Tools & Solutions:

Sekurno designed and launched a tailored security awareness program to educate RAKwireless employees on cybersecurity best practices and the evolving threat landscape.

Cultivated a security-conscious workforce, reducing human errors that could lead to security incidents and strengthening compliance with security policies.

Certification Audit

Sekurno guided RAKwireless through the ISO 27001 certification process, assisting in the selection of an accredited audit body and preparing the organization for a successful audit.

Achieved ISO 27001 certification, demonstrating RAKwireless’ commitment to security, improving market positioning, and facilitating enterprise-level partnerships.

This structured and strategic engagement not only fortified RAKwireless’ security framework but also delivered tangible business value, including regulatory compliance, improved market competitiveness, and enhanced trust with enterprise clients, paving the way for scalable growth.

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Conclusions

RAKwireless’s journey toward achieving ISO 27001 certification and enhancing their security posture offers valuable insights for other companies navigating similar challenges in the IoT and tech industries. By adopting a proactive and risk-based approach to security, RAKwireless not only improved their ability to respond to threats but also ensured compliance with crucial regulations like GDPR, unlocking new business opportunities and solidifying partnerships with key clients.

The implementation of a centralized security strategy and the integration of comprehensive employee awareness programs have fortified the company’s resilience, enabling them to efficiently manage resources and prioritize the most critical risks. This case study underscores the importance of aligning security efforts with business goals to foster growth, improve customer trust, and maintain a competitive edge in an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

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