Robots in the Workplace: Security and Concerns
Robots are becoming more commonplace both in media as well as enterprise environments, helping with simple tasks as well as complex ones. While they are convenient, connecting them to the network along with other devices brings out more security problems, be it losing control of the robot or important company information being stolen. With these risks in mind, it is important for businesses to know the risks involved as well as how to take preventive steps to keep everything secure.
Why Robots Can Pose a Security Risk
Robots are incredibly advanced; however, they will still have very similar vulnerabilities to your standard IoT devices, such as having weak default passwords. Given that they have digital access as well as physical access, it’s especially important that these devices are secured. As robots being added into enterprise environments is still new, there haven’t been many examples of a security breach with them; however, the risks involved when security breaches are discovered have a huge impact.
In April 2025, researchers discovered that the Unitree Go1 robot dog contained a hidden backdoor service that could be activated without the user’s knowledge or consent. Once the device is connected to the internet, it would automatically initiate a remote access tunnel, potentially allowing hackers to take control of the robot, view its live camera feed, and access the underlying system via SSH. The researchers demonstrated that anyone with access to the necessary API keys could exploit this vulnerability, making it a serious and immediate threat.
In addition to the digital threats of having your data leaked or stolen, it is important to remember that a robot is also capable of interacting physically. Should it malfunction, or even worse, get hacked, it can easily lead to injuries, property damage, or restricted spaces being accessed. Normal IoT devices can give data, but with a robot, if someone from the outside gets control of it, they can cause a lot more harm, both to employees and the company.
Best Practices
Many of the best practices from our article on securing IoT systems apply directly to robots as well, since they are likely to be network-connected devices. However, in the case of robots, some of these practices become even more important, and there are also a few additional concerns unique to robotics that deserve special attention.
1. Change Default Passwords and Strengthen Authentication
Changing default passwords is one of the simplest and most important steps in securing a robot. Many devices ship with factory-set credentials that are widely known, making them easy targets for attackers. These should be replaced immediately with strong, unique passwords. For added protection, especially when robots connect to cloud services or internal systems, implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) or certificate-based access. Securing login credentials early helps prevent one of the most common and avoidable threats.
2. Know What’s on Your Network: Asset Visibility and Inventory
Robots can quietly join a network without drawing attention, especially in large or fast-moving environments. That makes real-time visibility essential. Use tools like Nmap or Nessus to scan for connected devices and log key details like IP address, manufacturer, and firmware version. For larger setups, platforms like AWS IoT Device Management or Azure IoT Hub can automate this process and alert you when new or unknown devices appear. Keeping track of every connected robot helps ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
3. Encrypt Data
Robots contain sensitive information such as video streams from their camera, location data, and control commands. It’s important to protect this information by encrypting both the data being sent across networks and the data stored on the device or in the cloud. Using strong encryption methods, such as TLS for network communication and AES for stored data, helps prevent attackers from intercepting, reading, or altering critical information. This keeps robot operations secure and protects user privacy.
4. Implement Network Segmentation and Monitoring
Keeping robots on a separate part of your network helps limit the damage if one gets compromised. Using isolated VLANs or subnets means an attacker can’t easily move from a robot to more sensitive systems. In addition, continuous monitoring tools like Nagios can watch for unusual activity, such as unexpected connections or spikes in data, that might signal a security issue. This combination of isolation and vigilance helps detect problems early and contain threats before they spread.
5. Keep Software Up to Date
Robots run on software that can have security flaws. Making sure these are regularly updated is extremely important as the updates will likely contain patches or fixes to previously known security vulnerabilities. If possible, we want these devices to update automatically as well as keep an eye on what these updates entail so we can make sure they stay protected against both the old threats and any new threats.
6. Ensure it Can be Stopped
Since robots are capable of moving around as well as physically interacting with the environment around them, it’s essential to ensure a way of stopping it should it go out of control for any reason. A button on the device, a remote kill switch, or some sort of software should be made to shut down the robot should this happen. While you could also simply disable the motors to stop it from moving, it’ll be more secure to shut down the device completely to cut off any connection if it were hacked.
Conclusion
As robots become more common in workplaces, keeping them secure is more important than ever. Understanding their unique risks and following simple best practices, like changing default passwords, keeping track of devices on your network, encrypting data, separating networks, and regularly updating software, can help protect your business from costly hacks. Taking these steps isn’t just about technology; it’s about making sure your team can safely get the most out of these powerful tools.
