Organisations can now apply for funding to support research into the cyber security of office devices which can connect to the internet, such as printers, cameras, and room booking systems, to ensure they are properly protected against hackers.
Thousands of UK businesses rely on these products, known as enterprise Internet of Things (IoT) devices, to increase productivity and enable hybrid working. The Government is funding new research to uncover vulnerabilities in these commonly used enterprise IoT products and assess the cyber resilience of these devices.
These devices collect sensitive data which can be accessed by other users making them an attractive target for cyber criminals to exploit. While devices may have some protections built-in products with poor cyber security can leave companies using them at risk.
In 2019 Microsoft’s researchers found Russian hackers were compromising conference phones and office printers in organisations across many sectors though Microsoft was able to successfully block the attacks before they could cause any damage.
The successful bidder will be awarded up to £200,000 to test popular devices and help identify if current security measures and guidance are robust enough to protect businesses from evolving threats.
Applications will be open until 29 October 2022. Details on how to apply can be found here or by emailing enterpriseiot@dcms.gov.uk.
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