An IoT gateway is a device or service that bridges local sensors, controllers, and other Internet of Things endpoints to wider networks such as satellite, cellular, or cloud infrastructure. It often translates protocols, aggregates data, buffers messages during outages, and enforces basic connectivity rules between small devices and upstream services.
In cybersecurity, the gateway is a high-value control point because it sits between many endpoints and the outside network. If it is weakly authenticated, poorly patched, or remotely managed without strong access controls, it can become a pivot point into an entire device fleet. In satellite-connected environments, gateways are especially important because they may carry telemetry, commands, and updates for remote sites. Defenders should harden them, segment management traffic, log activity, and test failover so a gateway failure or compromise does not break operations.