Cybersecurity has always been a major concern associated with the introduction of the “internet of things” (IoT). Just as it’s bound to enable us to find new ways to use our devices, it’s also bound to enable criminals to find new ways to bypass security measures. Security issues plague us even with current-generation tech, and the introduction of the internet of things into mainstream use is bound to complicate things further.
This raises the question of whether it might be too early to introduce the new tech to industries. In order to answer this question, we first need to establish the circumstances that are bound to influence our readiness for technology.
Sources of Risk
The primary risk factors in introducing the internet of things for mainstream use are the sudden and steep increase in the number of connected devices, the lack of centralized risk management measures, and the lack of a regulating authority that can supervise the use of the technology.
- A sudden spike in connected devices means that there’s going to be a sudden spike in points of vulnerability. Each new device introduced into the network is a potential point of ingress that cybercriminals can use to gain access to your devices and the sensitive information held in these devices.
- The lack of a centralized risk management program is going to make it difficult to monitor and establish what should be normal behavior and what is suspicion behavior within business networks.
- Not having a regulating authority also means that nobody is going to be able to make the rules for use of the internet of things, nor is anyone going to be able to enforce these rules. A regulating body is necessary so that we’re able to differentiate the fair use of a technology from criminal behavior and so we’re able to create a standard that all users must comply with.
Redeeming Circumstances
Even when there is a significant risk in adopting the internet of things too early, the fact remains that it’s going to be a while before the technology becomes mainstream. This means that there’s still a lot of time to prepare for the advent of the internet of things. Even now, there are a number of companies such as McKinstry Wireless that provide wireless enterprise communication systems that make for a solid IoT foundation.
Another circumstance to consider is that there is an increased drive and demand for wireless solutions, especially because of the limitations forced upon us by the pandemic. When there’s a greater interest in a piece of tech, there’s also likely to be more developers that are willing to introduce new solutions into the industry.
Most companies aren’t ready for a full-scale IoT implementation, as there are still too many vulnerabilities and too many unknowns. However, judging from the rate at which technology is developed, as well as the increased interest in digitization, it’s highly likely that by the time the internet of things becomes introduced into the market, most businesses, if not all, have already set up the necessary measures.
