The Internet of Things is simultaneously the most remarkable and the most dangerous current IT trend. This is because it promotes the use of connected devices, while not supplying the integrated security necessary to keep all these new endpoints from stretching an organization’s network security thin. Today, we will look at five trending topics for the IoT, and what they mean for a business like yours.

New Security
It’s not exactly a secret that connected devices don’t always come with powerful security. In fact, the IoT has been looked at as a risk by IT administrators since its inception. After all, if there isn’t any strength to the integrated security of the device, it is a vulnerability that could, if leveraged as such, be a handle to pull an organization’s computing network down with. One of the biggest shifts we will begin to see within the IoT is a focus on device security. As it is right now, devices like wearables, internet-connected appliances, audio/media equipment, and other consumer-driven networked devices are designed to be easy to connect to. This makes them easy to exploit. More concerning are the devices designed for specific business tasks, such as factory equipment, automated utility infrastructure, security cameras, and more, all of which could cause trouble if they were accessed by an outside entity.

More Devices
Depending where you get your information, there are between eight and 25 billion IoT devices connected to the Internet. The smart money would bet on the latter number being more accurate. With that many devices, it’s hard to imagine any network being safe, right? The truth is that we’ve only hit the tip of the iceberg. Estimates put the number of Internet-connected devices at nearly 75 billion by 2025. If the industry is going to grow that rapidly, we’d like to see a whole lot less risk than there is with these devices today.

IoT Devices Will Do More
Most IoT devices do one specific task, and they do it well. With 5G networks right around the proverbial corner, it should usher in a whole new era for IoT. With the enhanced bandwidth afforded by 5G mobile network speeds, management of the endpoints created by IoT devices will suddenly be faster and more responsive. This will likely have a major effect on the security issue mentioned above as well as the limitations of capability that a lot of the devices that have been released thus far have.

It Will Come to Define the Automobile
IoT already has its place in the automotive industry, but as data becomes more and more important for automakers, the need for smart devices will enhance substantially. With the entire automotive industry on the precipice of being yet another data-hungry market, you are sure to see the use of innovative technologies like IoT grow precipitously.

Business to the Edge
Cloud computing has become one of the most important technology innovations of the 21st century (despite being developed in the 20th century). Today virtualized environments of all types provide countless options for the growing business to succeed. The cloud doesn’t work for everything however. Some parts of businesses simply don’t have any use for cloud computing per se. Logistics and shipping departments for manufacturers and distributors can benefit the from use of IoT technology. This is what is called edge computing, as they are important variables in a business’ operations, but aren’t core technology systems.

The Internet of Things will continue to be a major player in the way that businesses move into the information age. If you would like more information on the Internet of Things or on how your business should make IoT security a priority, call Argentum IT today at (502) 473-6407.