Master IoT Behind Firewalls: Remote Access & Security Strategies

Chelsey Witting 02 May 2025

Are you struggling to remotely manage and secure your Internet of Things (IoT) devices behind firewalls? The increasing complexity of IoT deployments demands robust security measures, and mastering firewall configurations is no longer optional; it's essential.

The explosive growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed industries, homes, and cities. From smart appliances to industrial sensors, IoT devices are generating unprecedented amounts of data and automating countless processes. However, this connectivity brings with it significant security challenges. One of the most crucial aspects of securing an IoT deployment is effectively managing the firewalls that protect these devices. Firewalls act as the first line of defense, controlling network traffic and preventing unauthorized access. This article explores the best practices for monitoring and controlling IoT devices that are protected by firewalls.

Understanding the intricacies of IoT and firewall management is paramount. The integration of IoT devices into networks creates a larger attack surface, making them vulnerable to various cyber threats. Without proper firewall configurations, these devices become exposed to malicious actors seeking to steal data, disrupt operations, or even take control of the devices themselves. This is where the convergence of IoT and firewall management becomes essential. The need for this integration is being driven by the need to protect IoT networks from cyberattacks. This also offers the opportunity to ensure secure and seamless control over devices, essential for maintaining both privacy and functionality.

The core of securing IoT devices lies in a multi-faceted approach that combines the implementation of appropriate security measures, effective monitoring strategies, and the ability to maintain control over the entire IoT ecosystem. With this, we can employ security in your IoT workloads and utilize remote access solutions to ensure a safe and efficient IoT environment.

Here's a look at the main topics that we will be covering:

Specialized monitoring tools and protocols for IoT devices behind firewalls.
Methods for remotely accessing devices, including port forwarding, VPNs, and SSH.
Techniques to secure IoT workloads and ensure a safe and efficient environment.
Setting up Ubuntu for IoT control.
How to choose the right firewall option for different business needs.
Configuration steps to collect network traffic metadata and forward logs.

Lets dive in and explore how you can make the most of remote IoT devices behind a firewall.

To understand the role of firewalls in an IoT network, it's important to first grasp the nature of IoT devices. These devices, by design, are often resource-constrained, operating with limited processing power and memory. They also tend to be deployed in environments where physical security is not always guaranteed. This combination of factors makes them particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks. Firewalls play a pivotal role by acting as the first line of defense, inspecting incoming and outgoing network traffic and blocking potentially malicious activity.

There are several methods for accessing IoT devices behind firewalls, including port forwarding, virtual private networks (VPNs), and secure shell (SSH) protocols. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, making the right choice critical. Port forwarding allows specific ports on the firewall to be open, enabling direct access to the IoT device, but it can also make devices vulnerable if not configured correctly. VPNs create an encrypted tunnel between the device and the remote user, providing a secure connection. SSH offers a secure way to remotely access and manage devices, particularly if command-line access is required.

Monitoring is a core aspect of any effective firewall strategy. Specialized monitoring tools and protocols, such as SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) and MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport), can be used to monitor IoT devices behind a firewall. These tools collect vital data about network traffic, device performance, and potential security threats. Collecting network traffic metadata and forwarding logs to a logging service allows for the detection of unusual behavior. Implementing these tools provides insights to help understand the network and respond to incidents.

Remote access to IoT devices often involves several technologies. One of the simpler methods involves establishing a secure communication channel between the device and a remote access platform. Another common method is using a web app. Installing and running a web application on your IoT device is one way to remotely connect and control it using a web client. This allows for controlling devices from anywhere with an internet connection.

Consider an example: Remotely accessing a Raspberry Pi behind a firewall or NAT router. The goal is to directly connect to the Raspberry Pi as if it were on the local network and send commands and batch jobs from a web portal. Solutions like SocketXP provide a way to achieve this, eliminating the need to discover the device's IP and modify firewall settings. This ensures that devices can be securely accessed and managed from anywhere without the traditional headaches of network configuration.

Selecting a firewall option that meets business requirements comes next, when you have a better understanding of the IoT devices on the internal network. IoT network firewalls or converting IoT devices to include inbuilt firewalls are possibilities, as previously suggested. When choosing the right firewall, consider factors such as ease of management, security features, performance capabilities, and the specific needs of the IoT deployment.

The choice between different firewall types depends on the context. For larger deployments, dedicated hardware firewalls offer robust security and performance. For smaller networks, software firewalls or even built-in firewall functionalities within the IoT devices themselves can be sufficient. One of the most popular of these is the UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall). UFW provides a user-friendly interface for managing firewall rules on Ubuntu systems, making it easy to control incoming and outgoing traffic.

Setting up a VNC server on a Raspberry Pi and using a VNC client application on a device to interact with the Pi's desktop from anywhere with an internet connection is a helpful approach. Managing a Raspberry Pi behind a firewall or a NAT router without a public IP address, however, can pose significant challenges for remote control and maintenance tasks. Changing the VPN/firewall configuration can be cumbersome if the Raspberry Pi is behind a corporate firewall that does not allow SSH or VNC connections.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, this article provides actionable steps, expert insights, and practical tips to help you navigate the complexities of firewall configurations. By understanding the importance of IoT and firewalls, you can implement appropriate security measures, monitor IoT behind firewalls effectively, and maintain control over your IoT ecosystem.

By following these best practices, you can improve the security and manageability of your IoT devices.

To illustrate how all this works in practice, consider the scenario of accessing a Raspberry Pi behind a firewall or NAT router. The challenge is to connect directly to the Pi, as if it were on the local network, allowing for command execution and batch job submissions via a web portal, all without needing to discover the device's IP address or modify firewall settings. Solutions such as SocketXP offer a convenient way to achieve this. Another benefit of using SocketXP is that it allows you to use the existing security of your network, thereby minimizing the risk.