Patsy VanDyke
The Internet of Things, IoT, has a significant place in the business world. As in the home, IoT works smartly, by the connectivity of a business’s electronic communication. Thermostats that adjust the temperature according to how many people are in the room. Lights brighten, or dim when humans arrive into, or leave the room. (CDW, 2019). Anyone could agree that the IoT positive with this aspect of device integration is that the energy being reserved saves both the company’s budget, as well as global resources.
IoT can also order printer ink before you are aware that the one attached to your office is low. (CDW, 2019). The maintenance of the devices within a business setting can be seen as a way of increasing employee performance. A sure-fire way to attain “being in the black.”
When a company uses IoT to track its inventory, real time availability generates another layer of output when customer service assures the client that the product they wish for is in stock. (CDW, 2019). With information such as this at a company’s fingertips, heighten its chances of success.
Utility and Energy companies have the luxury of using remote monitoring via IoT. This reduces costs associated with sending employees to remote locations. Within the manufacturing industry, IoT bumps productivity and detects limitations in supply chains. (CDW, 2019).
Basically, data mining itself, a company can focus on customer traffic patterns in the retail realm, and real-time tracking of vehicle fleets in the transportation industry which can forecast vehicle/transportation concerns.
The above attributes of IoT are marvelous conveniences in the business world. Unfortunately, as with all technological advancements, the pros are riddled with cons. The largest concern of IoT is security. A series of IoT hacks can occur in the business world leaving us aware of the negative aspect of loose security oversight.
If precaution is thrown to the wind, a hacker can infiltrate a business through the infection of its devices. Malware is introduced and it robotically scouts for other vulnerable devices, logging in using the default and password, installation is made, and it snowballs from there. One unprotected device is an open invitation. (Kilpatrick, 2018).
As an example, the medical industry was shocked by the penetration of such acts with hacked cardiac implantable pacemakers. Sharing information from the patient to the physician, the pacemaker allows the monitoring of a patient with ease. The horror here is that a patient with such a device is susceptible to a hackers whim by adjustments to its functions…depleting battery charge, and even possible fatal shocks. (Kilpatrick, 2018).
The call to action here is to ever be vigilant when it comes to embracing the qualities of IoT. The conveniences are practically essential to conduct business in todays world. Creating passwords that are strong and complex is a must. Installing a VPN on routers will assist in averting potential disaster by encrypting internet communications. (Kilpatrick, 2018).
Our technological future is ever evolving. So must our awareness of the darker side of advancement.
Citation
https://pixabay.com/illustrations/iot-internet-of-things-internet-4085382/
Kilpatrick, Harold. (2018). 5 Infamous IoT Hacks and Vulnerabilities. March, 2018, iotsworldcongress.com, https://www.iotsworldcongress.com/5-infamous-iot-hacks-and-vulnerabilities/
The Internet of Things 